Compositions comprising glucose and hemicellulose and their use

ABSTRACT

Provided herein are purified hemicellulose compositions, sweetener compositions including purified hemicellulose compositions, as well as methods for making the same. Also provided are uses of the compositions.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/783,622, filed Feb. 6, 2020, which is a divisional of U.S.application Ser. No. 16/409,335, filed May 10, 2019, which claims thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/669,684, filed May10, 2018. The disclosures of the prior applications are considered partof (and are incorporated by reference in) the disclosure of thisapplication.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present description relates to compositions comprising glucose andhemicellulose and to their use, particularly as a food ingredient or assweeteners or additives for orally consumed products.

BACKGROUND

Additives and sweeteners are used in the production of foods andbeverages and in other items for ingestion such as pharmaceuticals andsupplements. Many sweeteners used in the production of such products arederived from natural sources. These natural sugars and their precursorscan be selected and combined in order to impart desirable properties toa particular product. For example, sugar derived by hydrolysis of cornstarch is commonly used in the food and beverage industry to impart asweet taste but can also impart other features to a food or beverage,such as bulk and texture.

The processing of starch into sugar is typically based onenzyme-catalyzed reactions which may include hydrolysis of starch toglucose and isomerization of glucose to fructose. By these processes,both glucose and fructose, the components of sucrose, can be producedfrom starch. By modifying the degree of processing under thesereactions, syrups with varying viscosity and sweetness as well as otherfunctional specifications can be produced from starch. The syrups canalso be concentrated or crystalized to form dry additives products. Theresulting sweeteners can be classified in various ways, such as by themeasure of dextrose equivalent (DE). Dextrose equivalent (DE) is ameasure of the amount of reducing sugars present in a sugar productrelative to dextrose, expressed as a percentage on a dry basis.

Glucose syrup sweeteners of varying DE are commercially available,including 42 DE and 63 DE syrups. These sweeteners are used in a widevariety of manufactured products which rely on the consistent chemicaland physical properties such as sweetness and viscosity, provided by thesweeteners. Replacing these sweeteners in commercially manufacturedproducts can be difficult because in addition to providing a sweetflavor, these sweeteners can also provide bulk, viscosity and otherproperties to the product. Lower DE syrups can be produced by incompleteor partial hydrolysis of starch to provide mixtures of starch andglucose. The degree of hydrolysis can be controlled in order to producea product having a particular DE for a particular application.

High potency sweeteners have been the subject of extensive research foruse in reduced calorie food and beverage products. Many difficultieshave been encountered in developing such products including health andsafety concerns or off tastes such as metallic or overly sweet flavors.Another obstacle encountered in the production of high potencysweeteners is that these products typically have very differentproperties in terms of bulk and viscosity as compared to sugarcompositions having equivalent sweetness. These differences can beproblematic when trying to incorporate high potency sweeteners intoexisting recipes or products, as the texture of the product may besignificantly altered even though the same degree of sweetness isachieved.

Prebiotic fiber is a non-digestible part of foods that goes through thesmall intestine undigested and is fermented when it reaches the colon.The fermentation process feeds beneficial bacteria colonies in thedigestive tract and may help to increase the number of desirablebacteria in a digestive system, which may reduce the risk of certaindiseases and improve overall health. Fiber syrups that are derived fromplant sources can be a source of prebiotic fiber. Fiber syrups caninclude isomalto-oligosaccharides, protected starches, polydextrose,beta glucan and/or other types of soluble fiber. Fiber syrups may alsoinclude naturally occurring sweetening agents or added sweeteningagents. Fiber syrups can be used to provide bulk in calorie reducedproducts, as long chain fibers are not readily digested and pass throughthe gut. Soluble fiber in the diet can improve digestion by drawingwater into the intestines. It can also create a feeling of fullness andprevent blood glucose and insulin spikes, thereby reducing food cravingsand reducing or preventing intake of inappropriate foods orinappropriate amounts of foods.

The production of sugars, such as glucose, from cellulosic biomass hasbeen the focus of considerable research and development. A number ofdifferent methods for converting cellulosic biomass into sugars areknown in the art. These generally include a pre-treatment step whereincellulosic biomass is physically and/or chemically altered to open upthe structure of the polymeric sugars contained in cellulosic biomassand an enzymatic or chemical hydrolysis step wherein the polymericsugars are broken down into monomeric sugars.

Lower glycemic index foods and drinks may provide health advantages inthe management of blood sugar and insulin levels which may in turnreduce the risk of heart disease and/or diabetes. Foods having a lowerglycemic index may also be useful in controlling appetite and weightloss. Foods containing soluble fiber can help to reduce overallcholesterol levels and may lower the risk of heart disease.

There exists a need for alternative sweetening products or foodingredients which have a lower caloric content and/or a lower glycemicindex and still provide similar bulk and/or viscosity properties at thesame level of sweetness as sugar or corn syrup.

There is also a need for alternative sweetening products which includesoluble fiber and/or components which may act as prebiotics.

SUMMARY

It has been found that a sweetener composition comprising glucose,xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide, and xylan can be prepared. It has furtherbeen found that these compositions can be prepared in various ratios toprovide compositions having varying sweetness and viscosity or bulkingproperties.

In one aspect, there is provided a sweetener composition comprisingglucose, xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide, and xylan. In a further aspect,the glucose, xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide, and xylan are derived fromlignocellulosic biomass. In a particular embodiment, the glucose isderived from cellulose, and the xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide, and xylanare derived from hemicellulose. In a further aspect, there is provided asweetener composition comprising glucose and purified hemicellulose.

In a further aspect, the ratio of glucose, xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide,and xylan can be varied to provide compositions having varying degreesof sweetness and viscosity or bulking properties. In a particularembodiment, these characteristics can be selected to mimic existingmarketed sweeteners such as those derived from starch.

In another aspect, there is provided a method for preparing a sweetenercomposition from lignocellulosic biomass comprising: obtaining glucose;obtaining purified hemicellulose; and combining glucose and the purifiedhemicellulose.

In a particular embodiment, the purified hemicellulose comprises amixture of xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide, and xylan. In anotherembodiment, the glucose is derived from cellulose. In still a furtherembodiment, the glucose, xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide, and xylan arederived from lignocellulosic biomass. In a further embodiment, theglucose, xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide, and xylan are derived from thesame source of lignocellulosic biomass.

In one embodiment, the proportion of glucose, xylose,xylo-oligosaccharide, and xylan is selected to provide desiredproperties. The properties may include degree of sweetness, DE value,viscosity, bulk, dietary fiber, soluble fiber, or calories.

In another aspect, there is provided a use of a sweetener composition asdescribed above for sweetening a food or beverage. In a further aspect,the sweetener composition may be added to a food or beverage to impartproperties other than sweetness, such as viscosity, bulk, moistureretention, and the like.

In another aspect, there is provided a use of a sweetener composition asdescribed above as an additive in a pharmaceutical composition orsupplement.

In another aspect, there is provided a food additive comprising purifiedhemicellulose. In one embodiment, the purified hemicellulose ispartially hydrolyzed to provide a mixture of xylose,xylo-oligosaccharide, and xylan.

In a further aspect, there is provided a use of the food productcomprising purified hemicellulose in a food, beverage, pharmaceutical,or supplement.

In one aspect, provided herein is a sweetener composition includingabout 5% to about 95% by dry weight of glucose and about 5% to about 95%by dry weight of a purified hemicellulose.

Implementations can include one or more of the following features. Thepurified hemicellulose can include xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide, andxylan. The purified hemicellulose can include hydrolysis products ofxylose, hydrolysis products of xylo-oligosaccharide, or hydrolysisproducts of xylan. The sweetener composition can include about 30% toabout 75% by dry weight of glucose. The sweetener composition caninclude about 40% to about 60% by dry weight of glucose. The sweetenercomposition can include about 45% to about 55% by dry weight of glucose.The sweetener composition can include about 30% to about 75% by dryweight of purified hemicellulose. The sweetener composition can includeabout 40% to about 60% by dry weight of purified hemicellulose. Thesweetener composition can include about 45% to about 55% by dry weightof purified hemicellulose. The purified hemicellulose can include about20% to about 95% by dry weight of xylan. The purified hemicellulose caninclude about 30% to about 95% by dry weight of xylan. The purifiedhemicellulose can include about 50% to about 95% by dry weight of xylan.The purified hemicellulose can include about 80% to about 95% by dryweight of xylan. The purified hemicellulose can include about 87% by dryweight of xylan. The xylan can include about 70% to about 99% by dryweight of arabinoxylan. The xylan can include about 80% to about 99% bydry weight of arabinoxylan. The xylan can include about 90% to about 99%by dry weight of arabinoxylan. The xylan can include about 95% to about99% by dry weight of arabinoxylan. The purified hemicellulose caninclude about 5% to about 60% by dry weight of xylo-oligosaccharide. Thepurified hemicellulose can include about 5% to about 30% by dry weightof xylo-oligosaccharide. The purified hemicellulose can include about 5%to about 15% by dry weight of xylo-oligosaccharide. The purifiedhemicellulose can include about 9% by dry weight ofxylo-oligosaccharide. The purified hemicellulose can include about 0.1%to about 25% by dry weight of xylose. The purified hemicellulose caninclude about 0.1% to about 40% by dry weight of xylose. The purifiedhemicellulose can include about 0.1% to about 10% by dry weight ofxylose. The purified hemicellulose can include about 4% by dry weight ofxylose. The purified hemicellulose can include glucomannan, maltose, ora combination thereof. The purified hemicellulose can include less than10% by dry weight of glucomannan, maltose, or a combination thereof. Thepurified hemicellulose can include less than 5% by dry weight ofglucomannan, maltose, or a combination thereof. The purifiedhemicellulose can include less than 1% by dry weight of glucomannan,maltose, or a combination thereof. The sweetener composition can includeless than 10% by dry weight of glucomannan, maltose, or a combinationthereof. The sweetener composition can include less than 5% by dryweight of glucomannan, maltose, or a combination thereof. The sweetenercomposition can include less than 1% by dry weight of glucomannan,maltose, or a combination thereof. The purified hemicellulose caninclude less than 10% by dry weight of a sugar or a sugar polymer thatis not xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide, xylan, or a hydrolysis productthereof. The purified hemicellulose can include less than 5% by dryweight of a sugar or a sugar polymer that is not xylose,xylo-oligosaccharide, xylan, or a hydrolysis product thereof. Thepurified hemicellulose can include less than 1% by dry weight of a sugaror a sugar polymer that is not xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide, xylan, or ahydrolysis product thereof. The sweetener composition can include lessthan 10% by dry weight of a sugar or a sugar polymer that is notdextrose, xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide, xylan, or a hydrolysis productthereof. The sweetener composition can include less than 5% by dryweight of a sugar or a sugar polymer that is not dextrose, xylose,xylo-oligosaccharide, xylan, or a hydrolysis product thereof. Thesweetener composition can include less than 1% by dry weight of a sugaror a sugar polymer that is not dextrose, xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide,xylan, or a hydrolysis product thereof. The sweetener composition canhave a DE of about 35 to about 75. The sweetener composition can have aDE of about 40 to about 65. The sweetener composition can have a DE of42, 53, or 63. The sweetener composition can have a DE of 42. Thesweetener composition can have a DE of 53. The sweetener composition canhave a DE of 63. The sweetener composition can have a glycemic index ofabout 35 to about 50. The sweetener composition can have a glycemicindex of about 40 to about 45. The sweetener composition can have aglycemic index of about 42. The sweetener composition can provide about175 to about 225 calories per 100 g of the sweetener composition. Thesweetener composition can provide about 180 to about 200 calories per100 g of the sweetener composition. The sweetener composition canprovide about 190 calories per 100 g of the sweetener composition. Thesweetener composition can include soluble fiber. The sweetenercomposition can include about 20 g to about 60 g of soluble fiber per100 g of the sweetener composition. The sweetener composition caninclude about 35 g to about 45 g of soluble fiber per 100 g of thesweetener composition. The sweetener composition can include about 41 gof soluble fiber per 100 g of the sweetener composition. The sweetenercomposition can include prebiotics. The sweetener composition caninclude about 2 g to about 6 g of prebiotics per 100 g of the sweetenercomposition. The sweetener composition can include about 3 g to about 5g of prebiotics per 100 g of the sweetener composition. The sweetenercomposition can include about 4 g of prebiotics per 100 g of thesweetener composition. The sweetener composition can lack insolublefiber. The glucose can be provided, at least in part, in the form ofdextrose. The sweetener composition can be a solid. The sweetenercomposition can be a syrup. The sweetener composition can have aviscosity of about 2500 to about 3000 cP at a temperature of 120° C. Thesweetener composition can have a viscosity of about 2700 to about 2900cP at a temperature of 120° C. The sweetener composition can have aviscosity of about 2800 cP at a temperature of 120° C. The purifiedhemicellulose can have a molecular weight (Mw) of less than 4000 Da. Thepurified hemicellulose can have a polyphenol content of less than about0.5% by dry weight. The purified hemicellulose can have an antioxidantlevel of less than about 10000 μmol TE/100 g. The purified hemicellulosecan have a purity of at least 95%. The xylan can include about 70% toabout 99% by dry weight of arabinoxylan. The xylan can include about 80%to about 99% by dry weight of arabinoxylan. The xylan can include about90% to about 99% by dry weight of arabinoxylan. The xylan can includeabout 95% to about 99% by dry weight of arabinoxylan.

In another aspect, provided herein is a sweetener composition includingabout 48% to about 53% by dry weight of dextrose, about 41% to about 45%by dry weight of xylan, about 4% to about 5% by dry weight ofxylo-oligosaccharides, and about 2% to about 2.5% by dry weight ofxylose.

In another aspect, provided herein is a sweetener composition includingabout 50% by dry weight of dextrose, about 43% by dry weight of xylan,about 4% by dry weight of xylo-oligosaccharides, and about 2% by dryweight of xylose.

In yet another aspect, provided herein is a food product including anyone or more of the sweetener compositions provided herein.

In another aspect, provided herein is a pharmaceutical compositionincluding any one or more of the sweetener compositions provided herein.

In another aspect, provided herein is a dietary supplement including anyone or more of the sweetener compositions provided herein.

In another aspect, provided herein is a use of any one or more of thesweetener compositions provided herein in a food product.

In another aspect, provided herein is a use of any one or more of thesweetener compositions provided herein in a pharmaceutical composition.

In another aspect, provided herein is a use of any one or more of thesweetener compositions provided herein in a dietary supplement.

In another aspect, provided herein is a method of sweetening a foodproduct including adding any one or more of the sweetener compositionsprovided herein to the food product.

In another aspect, provided herein is a method of sweetening apharmaceutical composition including adding any one or more of thesweetener compositions provided herein to the pharmaceuticalcomposition.

In another aspect, provided herein is a method of sweetening a dietarysupplement including adding any one or more of the sweetenercompositions provided herein to the dietary supplement.

In another aspect, provided herein is a method of reducing the caloriecontent of a food product prepared from a recipe including providing arecipe including an amount of a sugar or sugar syrup, and preparing thefood product according to the recipe, but replacing at least a portionof the amount of the sugar or sugar syrup with any one or more of thesweetener compositions provided herein in an amount of about 50% toabout 150% of the portion of the amount of the sugar or sugar syrup. Inanother aspect, provided herein is a method of reducing the glycemicindex of a food product prepared from a recipe including providing arecipe including an amount of a sugar or sugar syrup, and preparing thefood product according to the recipe, but replacing at least a portionof the amount of the sugar or sugar syrup with any one or more of thesweetener compositions provided herein in an amount of about 50% toabout 150% of the portion of the amount of the sugar or sugar syrup.

Implementations can include one or more of the following features. Theportion of the amount of the sugar or sugar syrup can be replaced withany one or more of the sweetener compositions provided herein in anamount of about 80% to about 120% of the portion of the amount of thesugar or sugar syrup. The amount of the sugar or sugar syrup can bereplaced with any one or more of the sweetener compositions providedherein in an amount of about 100% of the portion of the amount of thesugar or sugar syrup.

In another aspect, provided herein is a purified hemicellulosecomposition including about 82% to about 92% by dry weight of xylan,about 8% to about 9% by dry weight of xylo-oligosaccharide, and about 4%to about 5% by dry weight of xylose. In another aspect, provided hereinis a purified hemicellulose composition including about 87% to about 88%by dry weight of xylan, about 8% to about 9% by dry weight ofxylo-oligosaccharide, and about 4% to about 5% by dry weight of xylose.In another aspect, provided herein is a purified hemicellulosecomposition including about 87.3% by dry weight of xylan, about 8.5% bydry weight of xylo-oligosaccharide, and about 4.2% by dry weight ofxylose.

In another aspect, provided herein is purified hemicellulose compositionincluding about 85% to about 95% by dry weight of xylan, about 5% toabout 25% by dry weight of xylo-oligosaccharide, and about 0% to about5% by dry weight of xylose. Implementations can include one or more ofthe following features. The purified hemicellulose composition caninclude about 85% to about 93% by dry weight of xylan. The purifiedhemicellulose can include about 85% to about 91% by dry weight of xylan.The purified hemicellulose can include about 85% to about 89% by dryweight of xylan. The purified hemicellulose can include about 85% toabout 87% by dry weight of xylan. The purified hemicellulose can includeabout 87% to about 95% by dry weight of xylan. The purifiedhemicellulose can include about 89% to about 95% by dry weight of xylan.The purified hemicellulose can include about 91% to about 95% by dryweight of xylan. The purified hemicellulose can include about 93% toabout 95% by dry weight of xylan. The purified hemicellulose can includeabout 87% to about 93% by dry weight of xylan. The purifiedhemicellulose can include about 86% to about 88% by dry weight of xylan.The purified hemicellulose can include about 88% to about 92% by dryweight of xylan. The purified hemicellulose can include about 90% toabout 95% by dry weight of xylan. The purified hemicellulose compositioncan include about 5% to about 20% by dry weight of xylo-oligosaccharide.The purified hemicellulose composition can include about 5% to about 15%by dry weight of xylo-oligosaccharide. The purified hemicellulosecomposition can include about 5% to about 10% by dry weight ofxylo-oligosaccharide. The purified hemicellulose composition can includeabout 5% to about 8% by dry weight of xylo-oligosaccharide. The purifiedhemicellulose composition can include about 10% to about 25% by dryweight of xylo-oligosaccharide. The purified hemicellulose compositioncan include about 15% to about 25% by dry weight ofxylo-oligosaccharide. The purified hemicellulose composition can includeabout 20% to about 25% by dry weight of xylo-oligosaccharide. Thepurified hemicellulose composition can include about 10% to about 20% bydry weight of xylo-oligosaccharide. The purified hemicellulosecomposition can include about 6% to about 12% by dry weight ofxylo-oligosaccharide. The purified hemicellulose composition can includeabout 8% to about 10% by dry weight of xylo-oligosaccharide. Thepurified hemicellulose composition can include about 0% to about 4% bydry weight of xylose. The purified hemicellulose composition can includeabout 0% to about 2% by dry weight of xylose. The purified hemicellulosecomposition can include about 0% to about 1% by dry weight of xylose.The purified hemicellulose composition can include about 0% to about0.5% by dry weight of xylose. The purified hemicellulose composition caninclude about 0% to about 0.1% by dry weight of xylose. The purifiedhemicellulose composition can include about 0.1% to about 5% by dryweight of xylose. The purified hemicellulose composition can includeabout 0.5% to about 5% by dry weight of xylose. The purifiedhemicellulose composition can include about 1% to about 5% by dry weightof xylose. The purified hemicellulose composition can include about 2%to about 5% by dry weight of xylose. The purified hemicellulosecomposition can include about 4% to about 5% by dry weight of xylose.The purified hemicellulose composition can include about 0.1% to about5% by dry weight of xylose. The purified hemicellulose composition caninclude about 0.1% to about 4% by dry weight of xylose. The purifiedhemicellulose composition can include about 0.1% to about 2% by dryweight of xylose. The purified hemicellulose composition can includeabout 0.1% to about 1% by dry weight of xylose. The purifiedhemicellulose composition can include about 0.1% to about 0.5% by dryweight of xylose. The purified hemicellulose composition can includeabout 0.5% to about 4% by dry weight of xylose. The purifiedhemicellulose composition can include about 0.5% to about 2% by dryweight of xylose. The purified hemicellulose composition can includeabout 0.5% to about 1% by dry weight of xylose.

Implementations can include one or more of the following features. Thepurified hemicellulose composition can be off-white. The purifiedhemicellulose composition can have a molecular weight (M_(w)) of lessthan 4000 Da. The purified hemicellulose composition can have apolyphenol content of less than about 0.5% by dry weight. The purifiedhemicellulose composition can have an antioxidant level of less thanabout 10000 μmol TE/100 g. The purified hemicellulose composition canhave a purity of at least 95%. The xylan can include about 70% to about99% by dry weight of arabinoxylan. The xylan can include about 80% toabout 99% by dry weight of arabinoxylan. The xylan can include about 90%to about 99% by dry weight of arabinoxylan. The xylan can include about95% to about 99% by dry weight of arabinoxylan.

In another aspect, provided herein is a food product including any oneor more of the purified hemicellulose compositions provided herein.

In another aspect, provided herein is a sweetener composition includingany one or more of the purified hemicellulose compositions providedherein.

In another aspect, provided herein is a pharmaceutical compositionincluding any one or more of the purified hemicellulose compositionsprovided herein.

In another aspect, provided herein is a dietary supplement including anyone or more of the purified hemicellulose compositions provided herein.

In another aspect, provided herein is a use of any one or more of thepurified hemicellulose compositions provided herein in a food product.

In another aspect, provided herein is a use of any one or more of thepurified hemicellulose compositions provided herein in a sweetenercomposition.

In another aspect, provided herein is a use of any one or more of thepurified hemicellulose compositions provided herein in a pharmaceuticalcomposition.

In another aspect, provided herein is a use of any one or more of thepurified hemicellulose compositions provided herein in a dietarysupplement.

In another aspect, provided herein is a method of preparing purifiedhemicellulose including providing a lignocellulosic biomass, combiningthe lignocellulosic biomass with water, activating the lignocellulosicbiomass and water using conditions including a first temperature and afirst pressure to form a first activated cellulose stream, washing thefirst activated cellulose stream to form a washed first activatedcellulose stream and a first soluble extract, wherein the first solubleextract can include hemicellulose, and purifying the first solubleextract to form purified hemicellulose.

Implementations can have one or more of the following features. Thefirst temperature can be about 190° C. to about 225° C. The firstpressure can be about 200 to about 500 psig. The activating step canhave a duration of about 1 to about 30 minutes. Washing can includewashing with water at a temperature of about 40° C. and about 100° C.Purifying can include one or more of decolorizing, treating with carbon,performing ion exchange (IX), performing reverse osmosis, nanofiltering,or a combination thereof. Treating with carbon can be treating withactivated carbon. Performing IX can include performing two-stage ionexchange. Performing reverse osmosis can include using a nanofiltrationmembrane. Decolorizing can include alkaline peroxide treatment.Decolorizing can include conditions including a pH of about 9.5 to about11.5. Decolorizing can include conditions including a pH of about 10.0to about 11.0. Decolorizing can include peroxide treatment. Peroxidetreatment can include a peroxide loading of about 5% to about 40% basedon the dry weight of a xylan component of the hemicellulose. Peroxidetreatment can include a peroxide loading of about 5% to about 40% basedon the dry weight of an arabinoxylan component of the hemicellulose.Decolorizing can have a duration of about 1 to about 5 hours.Decolorizing can have a duration of about 2 to about 4 hours.Decolorizing can be performed at a temperature of about 50° C. to about100° C. Decolorizing can be performed at a temperature of about 60° C.to about 80° C. Purifying can include, sequentially, decolorizing,treating with carbon, performing ion exchange (IX), and performingreverse osmosis, to form purified hemicellulose. The method can furtherinclude, adding a reduced-mass hemicellulose to a decolorizedhemicellulose. The method can further include drying the purifiedhemicellulose.

In another aspect, provided herein is a purified hemicellulose preparedby the any of the methods provided herein.

In another aspect, provided herein is a method of preparing a sweetenercomposition including providing glucose, providing purifiedhemicellulose, and combining the glucose and the purified hemicelluloseto form a sweetener composition.

Implementations can include one or more of the following features. Theglucose can include glucose prepared from lignocellulosic biomass. Thepurified hemicellulose can include purified hemicellulose prepared fromlignocellulosic biomass. The lignocellulosic biomass can include hardwood, soft wood, plant stems, plant stalks, or a combination thereof.The lignocellulosic biomass can include wheat straw, wheat flour, wheatbran, corn stover, sugarcane bagasse, hard wood, soft wood, or acombination thereof. The glucose can be prepared by a method includingsteam treatment of a lignocellulosic biomass, enzymatic treatment of alignocellulosic biomass, or a combination thereof. The purifiedhemicellulose can be prepared by a method including steam treatment of alignocellulosic biomass, enzymatic treatment of a lignocellulosicbiomass, or a combination thereof. The hemicellulose can be prepared byany of the methods provided herein. The purified hemicellulose can beany purified hemicellulose provided herein. About 1-20 parts by dryweight of glucose are combined with about 1 part by dry weight ofpurified hemicellulose. About 1 part by dry weight of glucose can becombined with about 1 part by dry weight of purified hemicellulose. Thepurified hemicellulose can include xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide, andxylan. The purified hemicellulose can include hydrolysis products ofxylose, hydrolysis products of xylo-oligosaccharide, or hydrolysisproducts of xylan. The sweetener composition can include about 30% toabout 75% by dry weight of glucose. The sweetener composition caninclude about 40% to about 60% by dry weight of glucose. The sweetenercomposition can include about 45% to about 55% by dry weight of glucose.The sweetener composition can include about 30% to about 75% by dryweight of purified hemicellulose. The sweetener composition can includeabout 40% to about 60% by dry weight of purified hemicellulose. Thesweetener composition can include about 45% to about 55% by dry weightof purified hemicellulose. The purified hemicellulose can include about20% to about 95% by dry weight of xylan. The purified hemicellulose caninclude about 30% to about 95% by dry weight of xylan. The purifiedhemicellulose can include about 50% to about 95% by dry weight of xylan.The purified hemicellulose can include about 80% to about 95% by dryweight of xylan. The purified hemicellulose can include about 87% by dryweight of xylan. The xylan can include about 70% to about 99% by dryweight of arabinoxylan. The xylan can include about 80% to about 99% bydry weight of arabinoxylan. The xylan can include about 90% to about 99%by dry weight of arabinoxylan. The xylan can include about 95% to about99% by dry weight of arabinoxylan. The purified hemicellulose caninclude about 5% to about 60% by dry weight of xylo-oligosaccharide. Thepurified hemicellulose can include about 5% to about 30% by dry weightof xylo-oligosaccharide. The purified hemicellulose can include about 5%to about 15% by dry weight of xylo-oligosaccharide. The purifiedhemicellulose can include about 9% by dry weight ofxylo-oligosaccharide. The purified hemicellulose can include about 1% toabout 25% by dry weight of xylose. The purified hemicellulose caninclude about 1% to about 40% by dry weight of xylose. The purifiedhemicellulose can include about 1% to about 10% by dry weight of xylose.The purified hemicellulose can include about 4% by dry weight of xylose.The purified hemicellulose can include glucomannan, maltose, or acombination thereof. The purified hemicellulose can include less than10% by dry weight of glucomannan, maltose, or a combination thereof. Thepurified hemicellulose can include less than 5% by dry weight ofglucomannan, maltose, or a combination thereof. The purifiedhemicellulose can include less than 1% by dry weight of glucomannan,maltose, or a combination thereof. The sweetener composition can includeless than 10% by dry weight of glucomannan, maltose, or a combinationthereof. The sweetener composition can include less than 5% by dryweight of glucomannan, maltose, or a combination thereof. The sweetenercomposition can include less than 1% by dry weight of glucomannan,maltose, or a combination thereof. The purified hemicellulose caninclude less than 10% by dry weight of a sugar or a sugar polymer thatis not xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide, xylan, or a hydrolysis productthereof. The purified hemicellulose can include less than 5% by dryweight of a sugar or a sugar polymer that is not xylose,xylo-oligosaccharide, xylan, or a hydrolysis product thereof. Thepurified hemicellulose can include less than 1% by dry weight of a sugaror a sugar polymer that is not xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide, xylan, or ahydrolysis product thereof. The sweetener composition can include lessthan 10% by dry weight of a sugar or a sugar polymer that is notdextrose, xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide, xylan, or a hydrolysis productthereof. The sweetener composition can include less than 5% by dryweight of a sugar or a sugar polymer that is not dextrose, xylose,xylo-oligosaccharide, xylan, or a hydrolysis product thereof. Thesweetener composition can include less than 1% by dry weight of a sugaror a sugar polymer that is not dextrose, xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide,xylan, or a hydrolysis product thereof. The sweetener composition canhave a DE of about 35 to about 75. The sweetener composition can have aDE of about 40 to about 65. The sweetener composition can have a DE of42, 53, or 63. The sweetener composition can have a DE of 42. Thesweetener composition can have a DE of 53. The sweetener composition canhave a DE of 63. The sweetener composition can have a glycemic index ofabout 35 to about 50. The sweetener composition can have a glycemicindex of about 40 to about 45. The sweetener composition can have aglycemic index of about 42. The sweetener composition provides about 175to about 225 calories per 100 g of the sweetener composition. Thesweetener composition provides about 180 to about 200 calories per 100 gof the sweetener composition. The sweetener composition provides about190 calories per 100 g of the sweetener composition. The sweetenercomposition can include soluble fiber. The sweetener composition caninclude about 20 g to about 60 g of soluble fiber per 100 g of thesweetener composition. The sweetener composition can include about 35 gto about 45 g of soluble fiber per 100 g of the sweetener composition.The sweetener composition can include about 41 g of soluble fiber per100 g of the sweetener composition. The sweetener composition caninclude prebiotics. The sweetener composition can include about 2 g toabout 6 g of prebiotics per 100 g of the sweetener composition. Thesweetener composition can include about 3 g to about 5 g of prebioticsper 100 g of the sweetener composition. The sweetener composition caninclude about 4 g of prebiotics per 100 g of the sweetener composition.The sweetener composition can lack insoluble fiber. The glucose can beprovided, at least in part, in the form of dextrose. The sweetenercomposition can be a solid. The sweetener composition can be a syrup.The sweetener composition can have a viscosity of about 2500 to about3000 cP at a temperature of 120° C. The sweetener composition can have aviscosity of about 2700 to about 2900 cP at a temperature of 120° C. Thesweetener composition can have a viscosity of about 2800 cP at atemperature of 120° C.

In another aspect, provided herein is a sweetener composition preparedby any of the methods provided herein.

In another aspect, provided herein is a food product including asweetener composition prepared by any of the methods provided herein.

In another aspect, provided herein is a pharmaceutical compositionincluding a sweetener composition prepared by any of the methodsprovided herein.

In another aspect, provided herein is a dietary supplement including asweetener composition prepared by any of the methods provided herein.

In another aspect, provided herein is a use of a sweetener compositionprepared any of the methods provided herein in a food product.

In another aspect, provided herein is a use of a sweetener compositionprepared by any of the methods provided herein in a pharmaceuticalcomposition.

In another aspect, provided herein is a use of a sweetener compositionprepared by any of the methods provided herein in a dietary supplement.

In another aspect, provided herein is a food product including an amountof any one or more of the sweetener compositions provided herein,wherein the food product has organoleptic properties comparable to asimilar food product including an amount of an alternate sweetenercomposition other than the sweetener composition, wherein the amount ofthe sweetener composition in the food product can be from about 50% toabout 150% of the amount of the alternate sweetener composition in thesimilar food product.

Implementations can include one or more of the following features. Adextrose equivalent (DE) of the sweetener composition can be from about50% to about 150% of a DE of the alternate sweetener composition. Thefood product can have a calorie content of no more than about 95% of acalorie content of the similar food product. The food product can have acalorie content of no more than about 92% of a calorie content of thesimilar food product. A serving of the food product provides at leastone gram more of dietary fiber than a serving of the similar foodproduct. A serving of the food product provides at least two grams moreof dietary fiber than a serving of the similar food product. The DE ofthe sweetener composition can be about 30 to about 75. The DE of thesweetener composition can be 42, 53, or 63.

In another aspect provided herein is a sweetener composition includingglucose, xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide, and xylan.

Implementations can include one or more of the following features. Theglucose, xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide, and xylan can be obtained fromlignocellulosic biomass. The glucose can be obtained from cellulose, andthe xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide, and xylan can be obtained fromhemicellulose. The sweetener composition can have a DE of from 35-75.The sweetener composition can have a DE of 42, 53, or 63. The sweetenercomposition can have a DE of 53. The viscosity can be about 2800 at 120°F. (cP). The sweetener composition can have fewer calories per gram thancorn syrup of the same DE. The xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide, and xylancan be a source of soluble fiber. The xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide, andxylan can be a source of prebiotics.

In another aspect, provided herein is a sweetener composition including50.4 wt % dextrose, 2.1 wt % xylose, 4.2 wt % xylo-oligosaccharide, and43.3 wt % xylan.

In another aspect, provided herein is a method of making a sweetenerfrom lignocellulosic biomass including obtaining glucose, obtaining apurified hemicellulose, and combining the glucose and the purifiedhemicellulose.

Implementations can include one or more of the following features. Theglucose can be dextrose obtained by hydrolysis of cellulose. Thepurified hemicellulose can include a mixture of xylose,xylo-oligosaccharide and xylan. The purified hemicellulose can beprepared by steam treatment of lignocellulosic biomass. The purifiedhemicellulose can be prepared by enzymatic treatment of lignocellulosicbiomass. The purified hemicellulose can be prepared by steam treatmentand enzymatic treatment of lignocellulosic biomass. The glucose and themixture of xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide, and xylan can be combined in aproportion to provide a sweetener having a desired dextrose equivalent(DE) value. The DE value can be in the range of 35-75. The DE can be inthe range of 40-64. The DE can be 53, 42, or 63. The glucose andpurified hemicellulose can be produced in the same processing facilityand/or from the same source of lignocellulosic material.

In another aspect, provided herein is a use of any one or more of thesweetener compositions provided herein in a food or beverage.

In another aspect, provided herein is a use of any one or more of thesweetener compositions provided herein in a pharmaceutical orsupplement.

In another aspect, provided herein is a food additive including purifiedhemicellulose where the hemicellulose can be purified by sequentialtreatment with activated carbon (to remove organic impurities) and thentwo stage ion exchange (cationic/anionic) to remove inorganicimpurities.

Implementations can include one or more of the following features. Thepurified hemicellulose can be partially hydrolyzed to provide a mixtureof xylan, xylo-oligosaccharide, and xylose. The amount of xylan canrange from 20-95%, the amount of xylo-oligosaccharide can range from5-60% and the xylose can range from 1-40%. The purified hemicellulosefurther can include other sugar polymers such as glucuronoxylan,arabinoxylan, glucomannan, and xyloglucan and sugars derived therefrom.The food additive can include about 87% xylan, about 9%xylo-oligosaccharide and about 4% xylose. The purified hemicellulose canbe a source of soluble fiber. The purified hemicellulose can be a sourceof prebiotics.

In another aspect, provided herein is the use of any one or more of thefood additives provided herein in a food or beverage.

In another aspect, provided herein is a use of any one or more of thefood additives provided herein in a pharmaceutical or supplement.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention pertains. Although methods and materialssimilar or equivalent to those described herein can be used to practicethe invention, suitable methods and materials are described below. Allpublications, patent applications, patents, and other referencesmentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. Incase of conflict, the present specification, including definitions, willcontrol. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples areillustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth inthe accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features,objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thedescription and drawings, and from the claims. The word “comprising” inthe claims may be replaced by “consisting essentially of” or with“consisting of,” according to standard practice in patent law.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary diagram of lignocellulosic biomass processingaccording to some embodiments.

FIG. 2 shows cherry pie filling prepared with an exemplary sweetenercomposition according to some embodiments (Comet) and a control cherrypie filling (Control).

FIG. 3 shows a cherry pie prepared with an exemplary sweetenercomposition according to some embodiments (Comet) and a control cherrypie (Control).

FIG. 4 shows nutrition facts for a cherry pie filling prepared with anexemplary sweetener composition according to some embodiments (Comet)and for a control cherry pie filling (Control).

FIG. 5 shows nutrition facts for a yogurt prepared with an exemplarysweetener composition according to some embodiments (Comet) and for acontrol yogurt (Control).

FIG. 6 shows a cookie prepared with an exemplary sweetener compositionaccording to some embodiments (Comet) and a control cookie (Control).

FIG. 7 shows cookies prepared with an exemplary sweetener compositionaccording to some embodiments (Comet) and control cookies (Control).

FIG. 8 shows nutrition facts for a cookie prepared with an exemplarysweetener composition according to some embodiments (Comet) and for acontrol cookie (Control).

FIG. 9 shows taffy chews prepared with an exemplary sweetenercomposition according to some embodiments (Comet) and control taffychews (Control).

FIG. 10 shows nutrition facts for taffy chews prepared with twoexemplary sweetener compositions according to some embodiments (Cometand Comet 63DE&42DE) and for control taffy chews (Control).

FIG. 11 shows cereal bars prepared with an exemplary sweetenercomposition according to some embodiments (Comet) and control cerealbars (Control).

FIG. 12 shows nutrition facts for a cereal bar prepared with anexemplary sweetener composition according to some embodiments (Comet)and for a control cereal bar (Control).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used herein, the term “lignocellulosic biomass”, refers to plant drymatter composed of the carbohydrate polymers cellulose, hemicelluloseand the aromatic polymer lignin. It can be obtained from naturallyoccurring, plants such as trees, bushes and grass or from waste biomass,produced as a by-product from various industries such as agriculture(corn stover, sugarcane bagasse, straw, etc.) and forestry (saw mill andpaper mill discards). The terms “cellulosic biomass”, “lignocellulose”,and “biomass” may also be used herein as short forms for the term“lignocellulosic biomass”.

As used herein, the term “carbohydrate component of lignocellulosicbiomass” refers to the cellulose and hemicellulose carbohydrate polymersderived from lignocellulose biomass.

As used herein, the term “cellulose” refers to the polysaccharidepolymer consisting of linear chains of D-glucose typically derived fromplant material.

As used herein, the term “hemicellulose” refers to the polysaccharideheteropolymers such as xylan (e.g., glucuronoxylan, arabinoxylan, andxyloglucan) and glucomannan. Hemicellulose, like cellulose, is alsoderived from plant material.

It will be understood that arabinoxylan is a type of hemicellulose.Commonly, arabinoxylan has a xylose backbone (e.g., 1,4-linked xylose)which is covalently linked to one or more arabinose units (e.g., via a2,3-linkage). It will be understood that arabinoxylan can be furtherlinked to other sugars, such as glucose, galactose, and maltose. In somecases, arabinoxylan may be further covalently linked to one or morepolyphenols. In some embodiments, polyphenol units can include ferulicacid, gallic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, coumaric acid, syringic acid,sinapic acid, rosemarinic acid, vanillin, epigallochatechin gallate orcombinations thereof. In some embodiments, polyphenols can be covalentlyattached to the arabinoxylan, can be free polyphenols, or can be acombination thereof. In some cases, polyphenol units can be free units.In some embodiments, polyphenols can be predominantly attached to thearabinoxylan.

As used herein, the term “purified hemicellulose” refers tohemicellulose that has been purified by one or more chemical, orphysical purification methods, including one or more of hydrolysis,extraction, membrane separation, carbon or ion exchange, chromatographicseparation and precipitation. The term “purified hemicellulose” is notmeant to indicate that the hemicellulose is necessarily absolutely pure,merely that it is purer than a hemicellulose that has not been purifiedby one or more chemical or physical purification methods. The hydrolysismay be chemical hydrolysis, for example by acid or steam, or enzymecatalyzed hydrolysis. Hydrolysis can be partial or complete. Extractioncan be carried out using water or various other known solvents.Similarly, other separation and purification methods can be carried outunder various conditions which are known in the art. Purificationprocesses can also be used to remove some or all of organic acids,inorganics, pre-treatment inhibitors, lignin and degradation productsfrom upstream processing.

As used herein, the term “xylo-oligosaccharide” or “xylooligsaccharide”or “XOS” refers to polysaccharides having 2-10 xylose units.

As used herein, the term “xylan” refers to polysaccharides having >10xylose units. It will be understood that “xylan” includes glucuronoxylan(GX), arabinoxylan (AX), and glucoarabinoxylan (GAX).

As used herein, the term “Dextrose Equivalent” or “DE” is a measure ofthe amount of reducing sugar present in a sugar product expressed as apercentage on a dry weight basis relative to dextrose. A DE can bemeasured by any appropriate method. For example, in some embodiments, aDE can be measured using Lane-Eynon titration. In some embodiments, a DEcan be determined using osmometry.

A “dietary supplement” can include medicinal products, natural healthproducts, nutraceuticals, vitamins, minerals, protein supplements andthe like. In some cases, a “dietary supplement” can be defined by aregulatory agency (e.g., the United States Food and Drug Administration)under an appropriate statute (e.g., 21 U.S.C. § 321).

As used herein, a “food product” is a material that is used for food ordrink by humans or animals, chewing gum, or materials used forcomponents thereof (see, e.g., 21 U.S.C. § 321). In some embodiments, afood product can be a food (e.g., a solid food). For example, in someembodiments, a food product can be pie filing, a cookie (e.g., achocolate chip cookie), a candy (e.g., a taffy chew), a bar (e.g., acereal bar or a granola bar), a cake, a bread, a cracker, a canned food(e.g., canned soup, canned fruit), or a dairy product (e.g., yogurt, icecream). In some embodiments, a food product can be a beverage. Forexample, in some embodiments, a food product can be a juice (e.g., ajuice cocktail), a soda, or an energy drink. In some embodiments, a foodproduct can be chewing gum.

Various references to percentage of components of the composition appearthroughout the application. The percentages are percent-by-weight unlessotherwise indicated.

Cellulose and hemicellulose are two of the main components found inplant material along with a third component lignin. While thesematerials are a natural source of hexose (C6) and pentose (C5) sugars,they typically cannot be digested in the human gut. Dextrose (D-glucose)is a commonly used form of digestible C6 sugar. In some cases, dextrosecan be obtained by chemical or enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose derivedfrom plant sources. Hemicellulose can also be fully or partiallyhydrolyzed by, e.g., chemical or enzymatic processing. For example,hemicellulose can be partially hydrolyzed to xylo-oligosaccharides orfully hydrolyzed to xylose. In some cases, hydrolysis conditions can becontrolled to provide incomplete hydrolysis, yielding a mixture ofxylose, xylo-oligosaccharides and xylan.

In some embodiments, a sweetener composition can be prepared bycombining glucose with purified hemicellulose. In some embodiments, thepurified hemicellulose is partially hydrolyzed hemicellulose andcomprises a mixture of xylan, xylo-oligosaccharide and xylose. In someembodiments, the glucose is derived from cellulose. The cellulose andhemicellulose can, in some embodiments, be obtained from lignocellulosicbiomass and in some embodiments, the cellulose and hemicellulose may bederived from the same lignocellulosic biomass. The lignocellulosicbiomass may comprise plant material that is not typically consideredsuitable for direct human digestion, such as hard or soft wood, plantstems and stalks. Sources of lignocellulosic biomass include but are notlimited to straw (e.g., wheat straw), corn stover, sugarcane bagasse,hardwoods, softwoods and the like. The lignocellulosic biomass can beobtained as a by-product of other industry, such as agriculture,forestry, and energy crops.

Purified hemicellulose for use in the compositions can be partiallyhydrolyzed to provide a mixture of xylan, xylo-oligosaccharide, andxylose, in any appropriate proportion. In some cases, the amount ofxylan can range from 20-95%, the amount of xylo-oligosaccharide canrange from 5-60%, and the xylose can range from 1-40% by dry weight ofthe purified hemicellulose. In some embodiments, the amount of xylan canrange from 50-95%, the amount of xylo-oligosaccharide can range from5-30%, and the amount of xylose can range from 1-25% by dry weight ofthe purified hemicellulose. In some embodiments, the purifiedhemicellulose can include less than 10% of other sugars and sugarpolymers that are not xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide, and xylan. In afurther embodiment, the purified hemicellulose includes less than 5%, orless than 2% or less than 1% of other sugars and sugar polymers that arenot xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide, and xylan. In some embodiments, thepurified hemicellulose can be partially hydrolyzed hemicellulose derivedfrom lignocellulosic biomass and can comprise about 87% xylan, about 9%xylo-oligosaccharide, and about 4% xylose.

In some cases, a purified hemicellulose composition can be combined withglucose (e.g., purified glucose, dextrose, purified dextrose, or acombination thereof) in various proportions to produce compositions ofvarying DE. A composition with varying DE can have varying propertieswith respects to sweetness and viscosity. In some cases, compositionshaving a DE in the range of 35-75 and particularly 40-65 DE can be madeand used as described herein. In some cases, compositions having a DE of53, 42, and 63 can be made and used as described herein. Sweetenercompositions including a purified hemicellulose composition combinedwith glucose (e.g., purified glucose, dextrose, purified dextrose, or acombination thereof) in varying proportions can be prepared toapproximate the DE and viscosity of commercially available syrupscomprising dextrose, glucose oligomers and starch, such as corn syrups,are provided herein. In some embodiments, sweetener compositionsincluding a purified hemicellulose composition combined with glucose(e.g., purified glucose, dextrose, purified dextrose, or a combinationthereof) in varying proportions can be prepared to approximate thesweetness and viscosity of commercially available syrups of dextrose andstarch.

Sweetener compositions also are provided herein. In some embodiments, asweetener composition can include glucose and hemicellulose. In someembodiments, the hemicellulose can be purified. Hemicellulose can bepurified by any appropriate method. In some embodiments, hemicellulosecan be purified by a method disclosed herein. A degree of purificationcan be determined by any appropriate method. In some embodiments, thedegree of purification can be determined by determining the percentage(e.g., by dry weight) of one or more impurities remaining in thepurified hemicellulose (e.g., polyphenols, ash, protein, or acombination thereof) and subtracting that number from 100. By way ofexample only, hemicellulose including 0.4% ash and no other impuritiescould be considered to be 99.6% pure. In some embodiments, the degree ofpurification can be determined by assessing the percentage (e.g., by dryweight) of one or more desired components (e.g., xylan such asarabinoxylan) and using that percentage as the degree of purity. By wayof example only, hemicellulose including 97% arabinoxylan could beconsidered to be 97% pure. In some embodiments, hemicellulose can beabout 80% to about 99.9% pure (e.g., about 85% to about 99.9%, about 90%to about 99.9%, about 95% to about 99.9%, about 98% to about 99.9%,about 99% to about 99.9%, about 80% to about 99%, about 80% to about98%, about 80% to about 95%, about 80% to about 90%, about 80% to about85%, about 85% to about 99%, about 90% to about 99%, about 90% to about95%, about 95% to about 99%, about 92% to about 98%, or about 94% toabout 96%). In some embodiments, hemicellulose can be at least about 90%pure (e.g., at least about 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or99% pure). In some embodiments, glucose can be about 90% to about 99.9%pure (e.g., about 85% to about 99.9%, about 90% to about 99.9%, about95% to about 99.9%, about 98% to about 99.9%, about 99% to about 99.9%,about 80% to about 99%, about 80% to about 98%, about 80% to about 95%,about 80% to about 90%, about 80% to about 85%, about 85% to about 99%,about 90% to about 99%, about 90% to about 95%, about 95% to about 99%,about 92% to about 98%, or about 94% to about 96%). In some embodiments,glucose can be at least about 90% pure (e.g., at least about 91%, 92%,93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% pure).

A sweetener composition provided herein can have any appropriateproportion of glucose and hemicellulose (e.g., purified hemicellulose).For example, in some embodiments, a sweetener composition can includeabout 5% to about 95% by dry weight of glucose (e.g., about 5% to about90%, 5% to about 80%, about 5% to about 75%, about 5% to about 70%,about 5% to about 60%, about 5% to about 50%, about 5% to about 40%,about 5% to about 30%, about 5% to about 25%, about 5% to about 20%,about 5% to about 10%, about 10% to about 95%, about 10% to about 90%,about 10% to about 80%, about 10% to about 75%, about 10% to about 70%,about 10% to about 60%, about 10% to about 50%, about 10% to about 40%,about 10% to about 30%, about 10% to about 25%, about 10% to about 20%,about 20% to about 95%, about 20% to about 90%, about 20% to about 80%,about 20% to about 75%, about 20% to about 70%, about 20% to about 60%,about 20% to about 50%, about 20% to about 40%, about 20% to about 30%,about 20% to about 25%, about 25% to about 95%, about 25% to about 90%,about 25% to about 80%, about 25% to about 75%, about 25% to about 70%,about 25% to about 60%, about 25% to about 50%, about 25% to about 40%,about 25% to about 30%, about 30% to about 95%, about 30% to about 90%,about 30% to about 80%, about 30% to about 75%, about 30% to about 70%,about 30% to about 60%, about 30% to about 50%, about 30% to about 40%,about 40% to about 95%, about 40% to about 90%, about 40% to about 80%,about 40% to about 75%, about 40% to about 70%, about 40% to about 60%,about 40% to about 50%, about 45% to about 55%, about 48% to about 53%,about 50% to about 95%, about 50% to about 90%, about 50% to about 80%,about 50% to about 75%, about 50% to about 70%, about 50% to about 60%,about 60% to about 95%, about 60% to about 90%, about 60% to about 80%,about 60% to about 75%, about 60% to about 70%, about 70% to about 95%,about 70% to about 90%, about 70% to about 80%, about 70% to about 75%,about 75% to about 95%, about 75% to about 90%, about 75% to about 80%,about 80% to about 95%, about 80% to about 90%, or about 90% to about95%) by dry weight of glucose). For example, in some embodiments, asweetener composition can include about 5% to about 85% by dry weight ofglucose (e.g., about 5% to about 70%, about 5% to about 50%, about 5% toabout 30%, about 5% to about 10%, about 10% to about 85%, about 30% toabout 85%, about 50% to about 85%, about 70% to about 85%, about 30% toabout 70%, about 40% to about 60%, or about 45% to about 55% by dryweight of glucose). For example, in some embodiments, a sweetenercomposition can include about 5% to about 95% by dry weight ofhemicellulose (e.g., purified hemicellulose) (e.g., about 5% to about95%, about 5% to about 80%, about 5% to about 75%, about 5% to about70%, about 5% to about 60%, about 5% to about 50%, about 5% to about40%, about 5% to about 30%, about 5% to about 25%, about 5% to about20%, about 5% to about 10%, about 10% to about 95%, about 10% to about90%, about 10% to about 80%, about 10% to about 75%, about 10% to about70%, about 10% to about 60%, about 10% to about 50%, about 10% to about40%, about 10% to about 30%, about 10% to about 25%, about 10% to about20%, about 20% to about 95%, about 20% to about 90%, about 20% to about80%, about 20% to about 75%, about 20% to about 70%, about 20% to about60%, about 20% to about 50%, about 20% to about 40%, about 20% to about30%, about 20% to about 25%, about 25% to about 95%, about 25% to about90%, about 25% to about 80%, about 25% to about 75%, about 25% to about70%, about 25% to about 60%, about 25% to about 50%, about 25% to about40%, about 25% to about 30%, about 30% to about 95%, about 30% to about90%, about 30% to about 80%, about 30% to about 75%, about 30% to about70%, about 30% to about 60%, about 30% to about 50%, about 30% to about40%, about 40% to about 95%, about 40% to about 90%, about 40% to about80%, about 40% to about 75%, about 40% to about 70%, about 40% to about60%, about 40% to about 50%, about 45% to about 55%, about 50% to about95%, about 50% to about 90%, about 50% to about 80%, about 50% to about75%, about 50% to about 70%, about 50% to about 60%, about 60% to about95%, about 60% to about 90%, about 60% to about 80%, about 60% to about75%, about 60% to about 70%, about 70% to about 95%, about 70% to about90%, about 70% to about 80%, about 70% to about 75%, about 75% to about95%, about 75% to about 90%, about 75% to about 80%, about 80% to about95%, about 80% to about 90%, or about 90% to about 95%) by dry weight ofhemicellulose (e.g., purified hemicellulose)). For example, in someembodiments, a sweetener composition can include about 5% to about 85%by dry weight of hemicellulose (e.g., purified hemicellulose) (e.g.,about 5% to about 70%, about 5% to about 50%, about 5% to about 30%,about 5% to about 10%, about 10% to about 85%, about 30% to about 85%,about 50% to about 85%, about 70% to about 85%, about 30% to about 70%,about 40% to about 60%, or about 45% to about 55% by dry weight ofhemicellulose (e.g., purified hemicellulose). In some embodiments, thepercent by dry weight of glucose and the percent by dry weight ofhemicellulose (e.g., purified hemicellulose) in a sweetener compositionprovided herein add to about 95%, about 96%, about 97%, about 98%, about99%, or about 100%.

Glucose can be provided in any appropriate form, or in a mixture offorms. In some embodiments, glucose can be provided in the form ofdextrose. In some embodiments, glucose can be provided as a mixture ofdextrose and other isomer monomers.

In some cases, a sweetener composition described herein can becharacterized by components that are not present in the sweetenercomposition. In some cases, a sweetener composition described herein canlack components that are present in other sweetener compositions. Insome cases, a sweetener composition described herein can becharacterized by components that are present in amounts different thanother sweetener compositions. In some cases, a sweetener compositiondescribed herein can lack components that may be present in a startingmaterial (e.g., a lignocellulosic biomass) but that may lend undesiredodors, flavors, or colors to a sweetener component (e.g., glucose orhemicellulose such as a purified hemicellulose). In some cases, asweetener composition described herein can have decreased amountscomponents that may be present in a starting material (e.g., alignocellulosic biomass) but that may lend undesired odors, flavors, orcolors to a sweetener component (e.g., glucose or hemicellulose such asa purified hemicellulose). For example, a sweetener composition can havean ash content of less than 0.4% (e.g., less than 0.3%, 0.2%, or 0.1%)by dry weight. For example, in some cases, corn syrups can includemaltose, maltotriose, or a combination thereof.

In some embodiments, a sweetener composition described herein can lackmaltose, maltotriose, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, asweetener composition described herein can include maltose in an amountless than about 15% by dry weight (e.g., less than about 14%, 13%, 12%,11%, 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, or 1% by dry weight). In someembodiments, a sweetener composition described herein can includemaltotriose in an amount less than about 15% by dry weight (e.g., lessthan about 14%, 13%, 12%, 11%, 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, or1% by dry weight).

In some embodiments, a sweetener composition described herein can havecomponents that are primarily glucose (e.g., dextrose), xylose,xylo-oligosaccharide, xylan, or hydrolysis products thereof.Accordingly, in some embodiments, a sweetener composition describedherein can include sugars or sugar polymers that are not glucose (e.g.,dextrose), xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide, xylan, or a hydrolysis productthereof in an amount less than about 15% by dry weight (e.g., less thanabout 14%, 13%, 12%, 11%, 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, or 1% bydry weight).

In some embodiments, a sweetener composition described herein caninclude sugars other than glucose (e.g., dextrose), xylose,xylo-oligosaccharide, xylan, or a hydrolysis product thereof.Accordingly, in some embodiments, a sweetener composition describedherein can include glucomannan, mannose, or a combination thereof inamount less than about 15% by dry weight (e.g., less than about 14%,13%, 12%, 11%, 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, or 1% by dryweight). In some embodiments, a sweetener composition described hereincan include no glucomannan. In some embodiments, a sweetenercompositions described herein can include no mannose.

Also provided herein are purified hemicellulose compositions (alsocalled ‘purified hemicellulose’). A purified hemicellulose compositioncan have any appropriate components. In some embodiments, a purifiedhemicellulose composition can include xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide, andxylan, and hydrolysis products thereof. The components of the purifiedhemicellulose composition can be present in any appropriate amounts.

For example, xylan can be present in a purified hemicellulosecomposition in any appropriate amount. In some embodiments, a purifiedhemicellulose composition can include about 20% to about 95% by dryweight of xylan (e.g., about 20% to about 90%, about 20% to about 80%,about 20% to about 75%, about 20% to about 70%, about 20% to about 60%,about 20% to about 50%, about 20% to about 40%, about 20% to about 30%,about 20% to about 25%, about 25% to about 95%, about 25% to about 90%,about 25% to about 80%, about 25% to about 75%, about 25% to about 70%,about 25% to about 60%, about 25% to about 50%, about 25% to about 40%,about 25% to about 30%, about 30% to about 95%, about 30% to about 90%,about 30% to about 80%, about 30% to about 75%, about 30% to about 70%,about 30% to about 60%, about 30% to about 50%, about 30% to about 40%,about 40% to about 95%, about 40% to about 90%, about 40% to about 80%,about 40% to about 75%, about 40% to about 70%, about 40% to about 60%,about 40% to about 50%, about 50% to about 95%, about 50% to about 90%,about 50% to about 80%, about 50% to about 75%, about 50% to about 70%,about 50% to about 60%, about 60% to about 95%, about 60% to about 90%,about 60% to about 80%, about 60% to about 75%, about 60% to about 70%,about 70% to about 95%, about 70% to about 90%, about 70% to about 80%,about 70% to about 75%, about 75% to about 95%, about 75% to about 90%,about 75% to about 80%, about 80% to about 90%, about 82% to about 92%,about 85% to about 89%, about 87% to about 88%, about 90% to about 95%,about 80%, about 81%, about 82%, about 83%, about 84%, about 85%, about86%, about 87%, about 88%, about 89%, about 90%, about 91%, about 92%,about 93%, about 94%, or about 95% by dry weight of xylan).

In some cases, xylan can include arabinoxylan (AX), glucuronoxylan,xyloglucan, glucomannan, hydrolysis products thereof, or a combinationthereof, each of which can be present in the xylan in any appropriateamount. In some embodiments, xylan can be predominantly AX. In someembodiments, xylan can include about 70% to about 99% (e.g., about 70%to about 95%, about 70% to about 90%, about 70% to about 85%, about 70%to about 80%, about 70% to about 75%, about 75% to about 99%, about 75%to about 95%, about 75% to about 90%, about 75% to about 85%, about 75%to about 80%, about 80% to about 99%, about 80% to about 99%, about 80%to about 95%, about 80% to about 90%, about 80% to about 85%, about 85%to about 99%, about 85% to about 95%, about 85% to about 90%, about 90%to about 99%, about 90% to about 95%, or about 95% to about 99%) by dryweight of AX. In some embodiments, xylan can include at least about 70%(e.g., at least about 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) bydry weight of AX.

For example, xylo-oligosaccharide can be present in a purifiedhemicellulose composition in any appropriate amount. In someembodiments, a purified hemicellulose composition can be about 5% toabout 60% by dry weight of xylo-oligosaccharide (e.g., about 5% to about50%, about 5% to about 40%, about 5% to about 30%, about 5% to about20%, about 5% to about 15%, about 5% to about 10%, about 8% to about10%, about 10% to about 60%, about 10% to about 50%, about 10% to about40%, about 10% to about 30%, about 10% to about 20%, about 10% to about15%, about 15% to about 60%, about 15% to about 50%, about 15% to about40%, about 15% to about 30%, about 15% to about 20%, about 20% to about60%, about 20% to about 50%, about 20% to about 40%, about 20% to about30%, about 30% to about 60%, about 30% to about 50%, about 30% to about40%, about 40% to about 60%, about 40% to about 50%, about 50% to about60%, about 5%, about 6%, about 7%, about 8%, about 9%, about 10%, about11%, about 12%, about 13%, about 14%, or about 15% by dry weight ofxylo-oligosaccharide).

For example, xylose can be present in a purified hemicellulosecomposition in any appropriate amount. In some embodiments, a purifiedhemicellulose composition can be about 0% to about 40% by dry weight ofxylose (e.g., about 1% to about 30%, about 1% to about 20%, about 1% toabout 25%, about 1% to about 20%, about 1% to about 15%, about 1% toabout 10%, about 1% to about 5%, about 4% to about 5%, about 5% to about40%, about 5% to about 30%, about 5% to about 25%, about 5% to about20%, about 5% to about 15%, about 5% to about 10%, about 10% to about40%, about 10% to about 30%, about 10% to about 25%, about 10% to about20%, about 10% to about 15%, about 15% to about 40%, about 15% to about30%, about 15% to about 25%, about 15% to about 20%, about 20% to about40%, about 20% to about 30%, about 20% to about 25%, about 25% to about40%, about 25% to about 30%, about 30% to about 40%, about 0% to about5%, about 0% to about 1%, about 0.1% to about 40%, about 0.1% to about25%, about 0.1% to about 10%, about 0.1% to about 5%, about 0.1% toabout 1%, about 0.1% to about 0.5%, about 0.1%, about 0.5%, about 1%,about 2%, about 3%, about 4%, about 5%, about 6%, about 7%, about 8%,about 9%, or about 10% by dry weight of xylose). For example, in someembodiments, a purified hemicellulose composition can be about 0% toabout 5% by dry weight of xylose (e.g., about 0% to about 4%, about 0%to about 2%, about 0% to about 1%, about 0% to about 0.5%, about 0% toabout 0.1%, about 0.1% to about 5%, about 0.5% to about 5%, about 1% toabout 5%, about 2% to about 5%, about 4% to about 5%, about 0.1% toabout 5%, about 0.1% to about 4%, about 0.1% to about 2%, about 0.1% toabout 1%, about 0.1% to about 0.5%, about 0.5% to about 4%, about 0.5%to about 2%, or about 0.5% to about 1% by dry weight of xylose).

In some cases, a purified hemicellulose composition described herein canbe characterized by components that are not present in thehemicellulose. In some cases, a purified hemicellulose compositiondescribed herein can lack components that are present in otherhemicellulose preparations. In some cases, a purified hemicellulosecomposition described herein can be characterized by components that arepresent in amounts different than other hemicellulose preparations. Insome cases, a purified hemicellulose composition described herein canlack components that may be present in a starting material (e.g., alignocellulosic biomass) but that may lend undesired odors, flavors, orcolors to hemicellulose (e.g., purified hemicellulose). In some cases, apurified hemicellulose composition described herein can have a decreasedamount of components that may be present in a starting material (e.g., alignocellulosic biomass) but that may lend undesired odors, flavors, orcolors to hemicellulose. For example, a purified hemicellulosecomposition described herein can have an ash content of less than 0.4%(e.g., less than 0.3%, 0.2%, or 0.1%) by dry weight.

Corn syrups are commonly used sweeteners. A purified hemicellulosecomposition described herein can include different components than somecorn syrups. For example, in some cases, corn syrups can includemaltose, maltotriose, or a combination thereof. Accordingly, in someembodiments, a purified hemicellulose composition described herein canlack maltose, maltotriose, or a combination thereof. In someembodiments, a purified hemicellulose composition described herein caninclude maltose in an amount less than about 15% by dry weight (e.g.,less than about 14%, 13%, 12%, 11%, 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%,or 1% by dry weight). In some embodiments, hemicellulose describedherein can include maltotriose in an amount less than about 15% by dryweight (e.g., less than about 14%, 13%, 12%, 11%, 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%,5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, or 1% by dry weight).

In some embodiments, a purified hemicellulose composition describedherein can have components that are primarily xylose,xylo-oligosaccharide, xylan, or hydrolysis products thereof.Accordingly, in some embodiments, a purified hemicellulose compositiondescribed herein can include sugars or sugar polymers that are notxylose, xylo-oligosaccharide, xylan, or a hydrolysis product thereof inan amount less than about less than about 15% by dry weight (e.g., lessthan about 14%, 13%, 12%, 11%, 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, or1% by dry weight).

In some embodiments, a purified hemicellulose composition describedherein can include sugars other than xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide,xylan, or a hydrolysis product thereof. Accordingly, in someembodiments, a purified hemicellulose composition described herein caninclude glucomannan, mannose, or a combination thereof in amount lessthan about 15% by dry weight (e.g., less than about 14%, 13%, 12%, 11%,10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, or 1% by dry weight). In someembodiments, a purified hemicellulose composition described herein caninclude no glucomannan. In some embodiments, a purified hemicellulosecomposition described herein can include no mannose.

The hemicellulose material (e.g., the xylan (e.g., arabinoxylan),xylo-oligosaccharides, xylose, or a combination thereof) of a purifiedhemicellulose composition described herein can have any appropriatemolecular weight. A molecular weight can be determined by anyappropriate method. For example, the hemicellulose material of apurified hemicellulose composition as described herein can have amolecular weight (as M_(w)) of less than about 4000 Da (e.g., less thanabout 3500 Da or 3000 Da). As another example, the hemicellulosematerial of a purified hemicellulose composition described herein canhave a molecular weight (as M_(w)) of about 1500 to about 4000 Da (e.g.,about 1500 to about 3500 Da, about 1500 to about 3000 Da, about 1500 toabout 2500 Da, about 1500 to about 2000 Da, about 2000 to about 4000 Da,about 2000 to about 3500 Da, about 2000 to about 3000 Da, about 2000 toabout 2500 Da, about 2500 to about 4000 Da, about 2500 to about 3500 Da,about 2500 to about 3000 Da, about 3000 to about 4000 Da, about 3000 toabout 3500 Da, or about 3500 to about 4000 Da).

A purified hemicellulose composition as described herein can have anyappropriate color. Without being bound by any particular theory, it isbelieved that polyphenols can contribute to the color of a purifiedhemicellulose composition to make it browner; consequently, alighter-colored purified hemicellulose is believed to be lower inpolyphenol content than a darker-colored purified hemicellulose. In someembodiments, a purified hemicellulose composition provided herein can beoff-white. In some embodiments, a purified hemicellulose compositionprovided herein can be white.

A purified hemicellulose composition described herein can have anyappropriate polyphenol content. In some embodiments, a purifiedhemicellulose composition described herein can be less than about 0.5%(e.g., less than about 0.4%, 0.3%, 0.2%, or 0.1%) by dry masspolyphenols.

A purified hemicellulose composition described herein can have anyappropriate antioxidant level. An antioxidant level can be measuredusing any appropriate method. For example, the micromole troloxequivalent per 100 grams (μmol TE/100 g) of a purified hemicellulosecomposition can be determined. In some embodiments, a purifiedhemicellulose composition described herein can have an antioxidant levelof less than about 10000 (e.g., less than about 9500, 9000, 8500, or8000) μmole TE/100 g. In some embodiments, a purified hemicellulosecomposition described herein can have an antioxidant level of about 0 toabout 10000 (e.g., about 0 to about 8000, about 0 to about 6000, about 0to about 4000, about 0 to about 2000, about 0 to about 1000, about 1000to about 10000, about 1000 to about 10000, about 2000 to about 10000,about 4000 to about 10000, about 6000 to about 10000, about 8000 toabout 10000, about 1000 to about 9000, about 3000 to about 7000, orabout 7000 to about 9000) μmol TE/100 g.

In some embodiments, a purified hemicellulose composition describedherein can include xylan, xylo-oligosaccharides, and xylose in any ofthe amounts disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a purifiedhemicellulose composition can include about 82% to about 92% by dryweight of xylan, about 8% to about 9% by dry weight ofxylo-oligosaccharide, and about 4% to about 5% by dry weight of xylose.In some embodiments, a purified hemicellulose composition describedherein can include about 87% to about 88% by dry weight of xylan, about8% to about 9% by dry weight of xylo-oligosaccharide, and about 4% toabout 5% by dry weight of xylose. In some embodiments, a purifiedhemicellulose composition described herein can include about 87.3% bydry weight of xylan, about 8.5% by dry weight of xylo-oligosaccharide,and about 4.2% by dry weight of xylose. In some embodiments, a purifiedhemicellulose composition can include about 85% to about 95% (e.g.,about 85% to about 93%, about 85% to about 91%, about 85% to about 89%,about 85% to about 87%, about 87% to about 95%, about 89% to about 95%,about 91% to about 95%, about 93% to about 95%, about 87% to about 93%,about 86% to about 88%, about 88% to about 92%, or about 90% to about95%) by dry weight of xylan, about 5% to about 25% (e.g., about 5% toabout 20%, about 5% to about 15%, about 5% to about 10%, about 5% toabout 8%, about 10% to about 25%, about 15% to about 25%, about 20% toabout 25%, about 10% to about 20%, about 6% to about 12%, or about 8% toabout 10%) by dry weight of xylo-oligosaccharide, and about 0% to about5% (e.g., about 0% to about 4%, about 0% to about 2%, about 0% to about1%, about 0% to about 0.5%, about 0% to about 0.1%, about 0.1% to about5%, about 0.5% to about 5%, about 1% to about 5%, about 2% to about 5%,about 4% to about 5%, about 0.1% to about 5%, about 0.1% to about 4%,about 0.1% to about 2%, about 0.1% to about 1%, about 0.1% to about0.5%, about 0.5% to about 4%, about 0.5% to about 2%, or about 0.5% toabout 1%) by dry weight of xylose. In some embodiments, the xylan can beabout 95% to about 99% by dry weight of arabinoxylan. In someembodiments, a purified hemicellulose composition described herein isoff-white. In some embodiments, a purified hemicellulose compositiondescribed herein has a molecular weight (as M_(w)) of less than 4000 Da.In some embodiments, a purified hemicellulose composition describedherein has a polyphenol content of less than about 0.5% by dry weight.In some embodiments, a purified hemicellulose composition describedherein has an antioxidant level of less than about 10000 μmol TE/100 g.In some embodiments, a purified hemicellulose composition describedherein can have a purity of at least 95%.

It will be understood that the amount of a component of a purifiedhemicellulose composition described herein (e.g., xylan,xylo-oligosaccharide, or xylose) in a sweetener composition describedherein can be determined by multiplying the amount of hemicellulose inthe sweetener composition described herein (e.g., as a percent by dryweight) by the amount of the component (e.g., xylan,xylo-oligosaccharide, or xylose) in the purified hemicellulosecomposition described herein.

Also provided herein is a sweetener composition comprising about 48% toabout 53% by dry weight of dextrose, about 41% to about 45% by dryweight of xylan, about 4% to about 5% by dry weight ofxylo-oligosaccharides; and about 2% to about 2.5% by dry weight ofxylose.

Also provided herein is a sweetener composition comprising about 50% bydry weight of dextrose; about 43% by dry weight of xylan; about 4% bydry weight of xylo-oligosaccharides; and about 2% by dry weight ofxylose.

A sweetener composition described herein can have a dextrose equivalent(DE) of any appropriate value. A DE can be determined by any appropriatemethod. For example, in some embodiments, a sweetener compositiondescribed herein can have a DE of about 35 to about 75 (e.g., about 35to about 40, about 35 to about 45, about 35 to about 50, about 35 toabout 55, about 35 to about 60, about 35 go about 65, about 35 to about75, about 40 to about 45, about 40 to about 50, about 40 to about 55,about 40 to about 60, about 40 to about 65, about 40 to about 70, about40 to about 75, about 45 to about 50, about 45 to about 55, about 45 toabout 60, about 45 to about 65, about 45 to about 70, about 45 to about75, about 50 to about 55, about 50 to about 60, about 50 to about 65,about 50 to about 70, about 50 to about 75, about 55 to about 60, about55 to about 65, about 55 to about 70, about 55 to about 75, about 60 toabout 65, about 60 to about 70, about 60 to about 75, about 65 to about70, about 65 to about 75, about 70 to about 75, about 42, about 53, orabout 63). Without being bound by any particular theory, it is believedthat a sweetener composition described herein with a DE that is withinabout 10 percent as a commercially available sweetener may besubstituted in approximately equal volume (or within about 10 percent)for the commercially available sweetener.

A sweetener composition described herein can have a glycemic index (GI)of any appropriate value. A GI can be determined by any appropriatemethod. For example, in some embodiments, a sweetener compositiondescribed herein can have a GI of about 10 to about 80 (e.g., about 10to about 60, about 10 to about 50, about 10 to about 40, about 10 toabout 30, about 10 to about 20, about 20 to about 80, about 30 to about80, about 40 to about 80, about 50 to about 80, about 60 to about 80,about 20 to about 70, about 30 to about 60, about 35 to about 50, about40 to about 50, or about 40 about 45). The glycemic index of glucose(e.g., dextrose) is typically reported to be 100. The glycemic index ofsucrose is typically reported to be 65. Without being bound by anyparticular theory, it is believed that sweeteners with lower GI valuescan aid in management of blood sugar and insulin levels and/or be usefulin controlling appetite and weight loss.

A sweetener composition described herein can have a calorie content ofany appropriate value. A calorie content can be determined by anyappropriate method. For example, in some embodiments, a sweetenercomposition described herein can provide about 100 to about 225 calories(e.g., about 100 to about 200, about 100 to about 175, about 100 toabout 150, about 100 to about 125, about 125 to about 225, about 150 toabout 225, about 175 to about 225, about 200 to about 225, about 125 toabout 200, about 150 to about 200, about 175 to about 200, or about 180to about 200) per 100 g of the sweetener composition.

A sweetener composition described herein can include soluble fiber. Insome embodiments, soluble fiber can be provided in a sweetenercomposition via hemicellulose. A sweetener composition described hereincan include any appropriate amount of soluble fiber. Soluble fibercontent can be measured using any appropriate method. In someembodiments, a sweetener composition described herein can provide about4 g to about 95 g (e.g., about 4 g to about 85 g, about 4 g to about 75g, about 4 g to about 65 g, about 4 g to about 55 g, about 4 g to about45 g, about 4 g to about 35 g, about 4 g to about 25 g, about 4 g toabout 15 g, about 15 g to about 95 g, about 25 g to about 95 g, about 35g to about 95 g, about 45 g to about 95 g, about 55 g to about 95 g,about 65 g to about 95 g, about 75 g to about 95 g, about 85 g to about95 g, about 10 g to about 80 g, about 20 g to about 70 g, about 30 g toabout 60 g, about 40 g to about 50 g, about 30 to about 40 g, about 35 gto about 45 g, about 45 to about 55 g, about 35 g, about 36 g, about 37g, about 38 g, about 39 g, about 40 g, about 41 g, about 42 g, about 43g, about 44 g, or about 45 g) of soluble fiber per 100 g of thesweetener composition. In some embodiments, a sweetener compositiondescribed herein can lack insoluble fiber. In some embodiments, thesoluble fiber content can be the same as the purified hemicellulose(e.g., arabinoxylan) content (e.g., in percent by dry weight).

A sweetener composition described herein can include prebiotics. In someembodiments, prebiotics can be provided in a sweetener composition viahemicellulose. A sweetener composition described herein can include anyappropriate amount of prebiotics. Prebiotic content can be measuredusing any appropriate method. In some embodiments, a sweetenercomposition described herein can provide about 4 g to about 95 g (e.g.,about 4 g to about 85 g, about 4 g to about 75 g, about 4 g to about 65g, about 4 g to about 55 g, about 4 g to about 45 g, about 4 g to about35 g, about 4 g to about 25 g, about 4 g to about 15 g, about 4 to about10 g, about 4 g to about 8 g, about 15 g to about 95 g, about 25 g toabout 95 g, about 35 g to about 95 g, about 45 g to about 95 g, about 55g to about 95 g, about 65 g to about 95 g, about 75 g to about 95 g,about 85 g to about 95 g, about 10 g to about 80 g, about 20 g to about70 g, about 30 g to about 60 g, about 40 g to about 50 g, about 30 toabout 40 g, about 35 g to about 45 g, or about 45 to about 55 g) ofprebiotics per 100 g of the sweetener composition. In some embodiments,the prebiotic content can be the same as the purified hemicellulose(e.g., arabinoxylan) content (e.g., in percent by dry weight).

A sweetener composition described herein can be in any appropriate form.For example, in some embodiments, a sweetener composition describedherein can be a solid. In some embodiments, a sweetener compositiondescribed herein can be a syrup. A syrup can have any appropriateproperties. For example, in some embodiments, a sweetener compositiondescribed herein can have a viscosity of about 2500 to about 7000 cP(e.g., about 2500 to about 6000 cP, about 2500 to about 5000 cP, about2500 to about 4000 cP, about 2500 to about 3000 cP, about 3000 to about7000 cP, about 4000 to about 7000 cP, about 5000 to about 7000 cP, about6000 to about 7000 cP, about 2700 to about 3000 cP, about 3000 to about6000 cP, about 3000 to about 5000 cP, or about 4000 to about 6000 cP) at120° C.

This document also provides products comprising any one or more of thepurified hemicellulose compositions described herein. For example, thisdocument also provides sweetener compositions comprising any one or moreof the purified hemicellulose compositions described herein. Forexample, this document also provides food products comprising any one ormore of the purified hemicellulose compositions described herein. Thisdocument also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising any one ormore of the purified hemicellulose compositions described herein. Thisdocument also provides dietary supplements comprising any one or more ofthe purified hemicellulose compositions described herein. Productscomprising any one or more of the compositions provided herein can haveadvantages. Non-limiting examples of such advantages include a reductionin calories, reduction in glycemic index, provision of soluble fiber,provision of prebiotics, and provision of antioxidants. Without beingbound by any particular theory, it is believed that hemicellulose (e.g.,arabinoxylan) is a low-calorie carbohydrate, and that hemicellulose(e.g., arabinoxylan) is a source of soluble fiber that can be used bycomponents of the microbiome to promote health. It is further believedthat, in some cases, polyphenols and/or polyphenol units can act asantioxidants.

This document also provides uses of any one or more of the purifiedhemicellulose compositions described herein. For example, this documentalso provides the use of any one or more of the purified hemicellulosecompositions described herein in a food product. For example, thisdocument also provides the use of any one or more of the purifiedhemicellulose compositions described herein in a sweetener composition.This document also provides the use of any one or more of the purifiedhemicellulose compositions described herein in a pharmaceuticalcomposition. This document also provides the use of any one or more ofthe purified hemicellulose compositions described herein in a dietarysupplement.

This document also provides products comprising any one or more of thesweetener compositions described herein. For example, this document alsoprovides food products comprising any one or more of the sweetenercompositions described herein. This document also providespharmaceutical compositions comprising any one or more of the sweetenercompositions described herein. This document also provides dietarysupplements comprising any one or more of the sweetener compositionsdescribed herein.

This document also provides uses of any one or more of the sweetenercompositions described herein. For example, this document also providesthe use of any one or more of the sweetener compositions describedherein in a food product. This document also provides the use of any oneor more of the sweetener compositions described herein in apharmaceutical composition. This document also provides the use of anyone or more of the sweetener compositions described herein in a dietarysupplement.

This document also provides methods of sweetening a compositions usingany one or more of the sweetener compositions described herein. Forexample, this document also provides a method of sweetening a foodproduct including adding any one or more of the sweetener compositionsdescribed herein to the food product. This document also provides amethod of sweetening a pharmaceutical composition including adding anyone or more of the sweetener compositions described herein to thepharmaceutical composition. This document also provides a method ofsweetening a dietary supplement including adding any one or more of thesweetener compositions described herein to the dietary supplement.

A pharmaceutical composition can be any appropriate pharmaceuticalcomposition. Typically, a pharmaceutical composition includes at leastone active ingredient (e.g., one, two, three, four, five, or more activeingredients such as drugs) in a pharmaceutically effective amount. Insome embodiments, a pharmaceutical composition is an oral pharmaceuticalformulation. Typically, an oral pharmaceutical formulation includes asweetener.

This document also provides methods of modifying food preparation, forexample, to reduce calorie content or to reduce glycemic index. In someembodiments, the methods can include substituting, in part or in whole,any of the sweetener compositions described herein for a sugar or sugarsyrup in a recipe. For example, in some embodiments, a sweetenercomposition described herein can be substituted in an amount of about50% to about 150% (e.g., about 50% to about 125%, about 50% to about100%, about 50% to about 75%, about 75% to about 150%, about 75% toabout 125%, about 75% to about 100%, about 100% to about 150%, about100% to about 125%, about 125% to about 150%, about 50%, about 75%,about 100%, about 125%, or about 150%) by mass or by volume for a sugaror sugar syrup in a recipe (e.g., 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% of the sugar orsugar syrup in a recipe).

Accordingly, also provided herein is a method including providing arecipe including an amount of a sugar or sugar syrup and preparing thefood product according to the recipe, but replacing at least a portionof the amount of the sugar or sugar syrup with a sweetener compositiondescribed herein in an amount of about 50% to about 150% (e.g., about50% to about 125%, about 50% to about 100%, about 50% to about 75%,about 75% to about 150%, about 75% to about 125%, about 75% to about100%, about 100% to about 150%, about 100% to about 125%, about 125% toabout 150%, about 50%, about 75%, about 100%, about 125%, or about 150%)of the portion of the amount of the sugar or sugar syrup. Also providedherein is a method of reducing the calorie content of a food productprepared from a recipe including providing a recipe including an amountof a sugar or sugar syrup and preparing the food product according tothe recipe, but replacing at least a portion of the amount of the sugaror sugar syrup with a sweetener composition described herein in anamount of about 50% to about 150% (e.g., about 50% to about 125%, about50% to about 100%, about 50% to about 75%, about 75% to about 150%,about 75% to about 125%, about 75% to about 100%, about 100% to about150%, about 100% to about 125%, about 125% to about 150%, about 50%,about 75%, about 100%, about 125%, or about 150%) of the portion of theamount of the sugar or sugar syrup. Also provided herein is a method ofreducing the glycemic index of a food product prepared from a recipecomprising providing a recipe including an amount of a sugar or sugarsyrup and preparing the food product according to the recipe, butreplacing at least a portion of the amount of the sugar or sugar syrupwith a sweetener described herein in an amount of about 50% to about150% (e.g., about 50% to about 125%, about 50% to about 100%, about 50%to about 75%, about 75% to about 150%, about 75% to about 125%, about75% to about 100%, about 100% to about 150%, about 100% to about 125%,about 125% to about 150%, about 50%, about 75%, about 100%, about 125%,or about 150%) of the portion of the amount of the sugar or sugar syrup.

In some cases, substituting a sweetener composition provided herein foran alternate sweetener (e.g., a sweetener that is not a sweetenercomposition provided herein) can provide similar performance (e.g.,organoleptic properties (e.g., taste, smell, and/or mouthfeel) orphysical properties), while having a lower calorie content, a lowerglycemic index, a higher dietary fiber content, or a combinationthereof. In some embodiments, substituting can include using about 50%to about 150% (e.g., about 50% to about 125%, about 50% to about 100%,about 50% to about 75%, about 75% to about 150%, about 75% to about125%, about 75% to about 100%, about 100% to about 150%, about 100% toabout 125%, about 125% to about 150%, about 50%, about 75%, about 100%,about 125%, or about 150%) of a sweetener composition provided hereinfor a given amount (e.g., by weight or by volume) of an alternatesweetener. In some embodiments, substituting can be an equalsubstitution (e.g., by dry weight or by volume). For example, in someembodiments, provided herein is a food product including an amount ofthe any one or more of the sweetener compositions provided herein,wherein the food product has organoleptic properties comparable to asimilar food product comprising an amount of an alternate sweetenercomposition other than the sweetener composition, wherein the amount ofthe sweetener composition in the food product is from about 50% to about150% (e.g., about 50% to about 125%, about 50% to about 100%, about 50%to about 75%, about 75% to about 150%, about 75% to about 125%, about75% to about 100%, about 100% to about 150%, about 100% to about 125%,about 125% to about 150%, about 50%, about 75%, about 100%, about 125%,or about 150%) of the amount of the alternate sweetener composition inthe similar food product. In some embodiments, organoleptic propertiescan be determined by a trained human panelist. For example, in someembodiments, provided herein is a food product including an amount ofthe any one or more of the sweetener compositions provided herein,wherein the food product has physical properties (e.g., tensilestrength, cohesiveness, viscosity, appearance, temperature stability,storage stability, pH stability, and/or spread upon baking) comparableto a similar food product comprising an amount of an alternate sweetenercomposition other than the sweetener composition, wherein the amount ofthe sweetener composition in the food product is from about 50% to about150% (e.g., about 50% to about 125%, about 50% to about 100%, about 50%to about 75%, about 75% to about 150%, about 75% to about 125%, about75% to about 100%, about 100% to about 150%, about 100% to about 125%,about 125% to about 150%, about 50%, about 75%, about 100%, about 125%,or about 150%) of the amount of the alternate sweetener composition inthe similar food product. Physical properties can be measured using anyappropriate method. In some embodiments, a comparable physical propertyis within about 25% (e.g., within about 20%, 15%, 10%, 5%, 2%, or 1%) ofthe same property in the similar food product. In some such embodiments,a dextrose equivalent (DE) of the sweetener composition can be fromabout 50% to about 150% (e.g., about 50% to about 125%, about 50% toabout 100%, about 50% to about 75%, about 75% to about 150%, about 75%to about 125%, about 75% to about 100%, about 100% to about 150%, about100% to about 125%, about 125% to about 150%, about 50%, about 75%,about 100%, about 125%, or about 150%) of a DE of the alternatesweetener composition. In some cases the DE of the sweetener compositionprovided herein is about 30 to about 75 (e.g., about 40 to about 65,about 42, about 53, or about 63). In some embodiments, a food productcan have a calorie content that is no more than 95% (e.g., no more than93%, 92%, 91%, 90%, or 85%) of the calorie content of the similar foodproduct. In some embodiments, a food product can have a dietary fibercontent that is that at least 1 gram greater per serving (e.g., at least2, 3, 4, or 5 grams greater per serving) of the dietary fiber of thesimilar food product. In some embodiments, the alternate sweetenercomposition is a corn syrup.

In yet a further aspect, compositions comprising various ratios ofglucose to purified hemicellulose can be prepared. In one embodiment,the composition comprises less than 95% glucose. In a furtherembodiment, the composition comprises less than 94% glucose. In afurther embodiment, the composition comprises less than 90% glucose orfrom 5-90% glucose. In a further embodiment, the composition comprisesless than 75% glucose or from 30-75% glucose. In a further embodiment,the composition comprises less than 60% glucose or from 30-60% glucose.In still a further embodiment, the composition comprises about 30%,about 40% about 50% or about 60% glucose.

In another aspect, the ratio of the components of the compositioncomprising glucose, xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide, and xylan may beselected so as not to impart a significant degree of sweetness butrather to be used as a food ingredient primarily to impart otherfeatures such as viscosity.

The glycemic index (GI) can be measured using methods known in the art,for example, as described in “In vitro method for predicting glycemicindex of foods using simulated digestion and an artificial neuralnetwork” R. L. Magaletta et al., Cereal Chemistry vol. 87, no. 4, 2010.Soluble fiber is measured by AOAC Official Methods of Analysis 2011.25.

This document also provides methods of preparing a hemicellulosecomposition. Any of the purified hemicellulose compositions describedherein can be prepared by the methods described herein.

In some cases, the methods described herein can include extractinghemicellulose from a lignocellulosic biomass and purifying the extractedhemicellulose. Extracting hemicellulose from a lignocellulosic biomasscan be accomplished by any appropriate method. Purifying the extractedhemicellulose can be accomplished using any appropriate method.

In some embodiments, a lignocellulosic biomass can be combined withwater, and the lignocellulosic biomass can be activated using conditionscomprising a first temperature and a first pressure to form an activatedcellulose stream (e.g., a first activating step). In some embodiments, apre-activating step can precede a first activating step. A firstactivated cellulose stream can be washed to form a washed firstactivated cellulose stream and a first soluble extract. A first solubleextract can be separated from a washed first activated cellulose streamby any appropriate method. In some embodiments, a first soluble extractcan be separated from a washed first activated cellulose stream usingfiltration (e.g., vacuum filtration).

An exemplary method is shown in FIG. 1 . Lignocellulosic biomass 101 canbe fed to reactor 103 wherein lignocellulosic biomass 101 is subjectedto a first activation step to produce a first activated cellulose stream104. In the first activation step, lignocellulosic biomass 101 may betreated at an elevated temperature and pressure to produce firstactivated cellulose stream 104, e.g., comprising cellulose II andinsoluble solids. The first activation step can be conducted in thepresence of water. Water may be introduced into reactor 103 by one ormore of: being present in lignocellulosic biomass 101, being present inreactor 103 when lignocellulosic biomass is introduced into reactor 103,or being introduced by feed stream 102. Reactor 103 can be a batchreactor or a continuous process reactor. In the case of a batch reactor,lignocellulosic biomass 101 can be fed to reactor 103, and the reactor,which can be a stirred tank reactor, can be raised to the operatingconditions for a desired time. If reactor 103 is a continuous flowreactor, then it can be a steam exposition reactor and can be maintainedat the desired operating condition. First activated cellulose stream 104can be washed to extract soluble non-cellulosic components such ashemicellulose and some ash, extractives and lignin. First activatedcellulose stream 104 and wash water 106 may be introduced to washreactor 105 to produce soluble extract 107 and a washed first activatedcellulose stream 108. Wash reactor 105 can be any appropriate reactor.Optionally, wash reactor 105 may be operated counter-currently, and itmay be a counter-current belt filter. Other filtration or separationmethods may be used such as a filter press, twin wire press, twin rollpress, rotary vacuum filter or a centrifuge.

A lignocellulosic biomass can be any appropriate feedstock. For example,the lignocellulosic biomass may comprise one or more of straw, cornstover, bagasse, hardwoods, softwoods, energy crops, and the like. Theraw agricultural material which is provided can, in some cases, betreated to remove rocks, soil, or other material present in the rawagricultural material and to reduce the size of the raw agricultural orforest based material that is fed to the process, such as bycomminution, grinding, milling or otherwise treated. In some cases, alignocellulosic biomass used to produce a purified hemicellulosecomposition described herein is wheat straw.

In some cases, a pre-activating step can include treatinglignocellulosic biomass (e.g., wheat straw) with steam. A pre-activatingstep can include any appropriate temperature, pressure, and duration. Insome embodiments, the temperature of a pre-activating step can be about110° C. to about 150° C. (e.g., about 110° C. to about 140° C., about110° C. to about 130° C., about 120° C. ° C. to about 150° C., about120° C. to about 140° C., or about 125° C. to about 135° C.). In someembodiments, the duration of a pre-activating step can be about 5minutes to about 30 minutes (e.g., about 5 minutes to about 25 minutes,about 5 minutes to about 15 minutes, about 10 minutes to about 30minutes, about 20 minutes to about 30 minutes, about 10 minutes to about30 minutes, or about 13 minutes to about 17 minutes). In someembodiments, the pressure of a pre-activation step can be about 10 psito about 20 psi (e.g., about 10 to about 15 psi, about 15 to about 20psi, about 10 psi, about 15 psi, or about 20 psi).

In some cases, a first activation step may be conducted under conditionsthat increase the amount of cellulose II in the first activatedcellulose stream relative to the amount of cellulose II in thefeedstock.

The temperature of a first activation step can be any appropriatetemperature. In some cases, the temperature of a first activation stepcan be greater than 190° C. (e.g., greater than 200° C., 210° C., 220°C., 230° C., or 240° C.). In some embodiments, the temperature of afirst activation step can be less than about 250° C. (e.g., less than240° C., 230° C., or 220° C.). In some embodiments, the temperature of afirst activation step can be about 190° C. to about 250° C. (e.g., about190° C. to about 240° C., about 190° C. to about 230° C., about 190° C.to about 220° C., about 190° C. to about 210° C., about 190° C. to about200° C., about 200° C. to about 250° C., about 200° C. to about 240° C.,about 200° C. to about 230° C., about 200° C. to about 220° C., about200° C. to about 210° C., about 210° C. to about 250° C., about 210° C.to about 240° C., about 210° C. to about 230° C., about 210° C. to about220° C., about 220° C. to about 250° C., about 220° C. to about 240° C.,about 220° C. to about 230° C., about 222° C. to about 230° C., about230° C. to about 250° C., about 230° C. to about 240° C., or about 240°C. to about 250° C.).

The amount of moisture that is introduced in the first activation stepcan be any appropriate amount. In some embodiments, the amount ofmoisture can be at least about 30% (e.g., at least about 40% or at leastabout 50%) on the basis of the lignocellulosic biomass plus themoisture. In some embodiments, the amount of moisture can be less than90% (e.g., less than 80%, 70%, or 60%). In some embodiments, the amountof moisture in the first activation step can be about 50%. In someembodiments, the amount of moisture in the first activation step can beabout 10% to about 65% (e.g., about 10% to about 60%, about 10% to about50%, about 10% to about 40%, about 10% to about 30%, about 10% to about20%, about 20% to about 65%, about 30% to about 65%, about 40% to about65%, about 50% to about 65%, about 20% to about 50%, about 30% to about60%, or about 35% to about 55%).

The moisture in the first activation step can be in the form of steam orliquid water. It will be appreciated that the temperature and pressureof the first activation step may be selected such that liquid water inthe first activation step. It will be appreciated that the temperatureand pressure of the first activation step may be selected such thatsteam is present in the first activation step.

The pressure of a first activation step can be any appropriate pressure.In some embodiments, the pressure can be at least about 200 psig (e.g.,at least about 250, 300, or 350 psig). In some embodiments, the pressurecan be less than 500 psig (e.g., less than about 450 or 400 psig.Without being bound by any particular theory, it is believed thatpressure in a reactor corresponds to temperature as per saturated steamthermodynamics as a minimum. In some embodiments, pressure may beincreased over and above that value by adding a pressurized gas, oradding superheat.

The duration of the first activation step can be any appropriateduration. In some embodiments, the first activation step can be lessthan 30 minutes (e.g., less than 20, 10, or 5 minutes). In someembodiments, the duration of the first activation step can be about 1minute to about 30 minutes (e.g., about 1 to about 25 minutes, about 1to about 20 minutes, about 1 to about 15 minutes, about 1 to about 10minutes, about 1 to about 5 minutes, about 5 to about 30 minutes, about5 to about 25 minutes, about 5 to about 20 minutes, about 5 to about 15minutes, about 5 to about 10 minutes, about 10 to about 30 minutes,about 10 to about 25 minutes, about 10 to about 20 minutes, about 10 toabout 15 minutes, about 15 minutes to about 30 minutes, about 15 toabout 25 minutes, about 15 to about 20 minutes, about 20 to about 30minutes, about 20 to about 25 minutes, about 25 to about 30 minutes,about 1 minute, about 5 minutes, about 10 minutes, about 15 minutes,about 20 minutes, about 25 minutes, or about 30 minutes). It will beappreciated that duration of the first activation step can varydepending upon many factors including severity of the first activationstep, e.g., the temperature and pressure of the first activation step.

It will be appreciated that the temperatures, pressures, and duration oftreatment may be combined in any desired combination. Accordingly, forexample, the first activation step may comprise subjecting the feedstockto a pressure between 200 and 500 psig and a temperature between 200 and250° C. for 1 to 30 minutes, or a pressure between 200 and 500 psig anda temperature between 190 and 215° C. for less than 4 minutes.

A first activated cellulose stream can have any appropriate solidscontent. For example, a first activated cellulose stream can have asolids content of between about 30% and 50% solids by weight. In somecases, the solids can be mainly cellulose. In some cases, the solids caninclude lignin, hemicellulose and/or minor components such as ash,protein, or extractives.

A first activated cellulose stream can be washed to form a first washedactivated cellulose stream and a first soluble extract. A firstactivated cellulose stream can be washed with water. The water caninclude any appropriate solutes. In some embodiments, the wash water canhave a temperature of about 40° C. to about 100° C. (e.g., about 40° C.to about 95° C., about 40° C. to about 90° C., about 40° C. to about 80°C., about 40° C. to about 70° C., about 40° C. to about 60° C., about40° C. to about 50° C., about 50° C. to about 100° C., about 50° C. toabout 95° C., about 50° C. to about 90° C., about 50° C. to about 80°C., about 50° C. to about 70° C., about 50° C. to about 60° C., about60° C. to about 100° C., about 60° C. to about 95° C., about 60° C. toabout 90° C., about 60° C. to about 80° C., about 60° C. to about 70°C., about 70° C. to about 100° C., about 70° C. to about 95° C., about70° C. to about 90° C., about 70° C. to about 80° C., about 80° C. toabout 100° C., about 80° C. to about 95° C., about 80° C. to about 90°C., about 90° C. to about 100° C., about 90° C. to about 95° C., orabout 95° C. to about 100° C.). In some embodiments, the wash water canhave a temperature of about 25° C. to about 95° C. (e.g., about 25° C.to about 75° C., about 25° C. to about 50° C., about 50° C. to about 95°C., about 75° C. to about 95° C., about 25° C. to about 50° C., or about25° C. to about 75° C.).

A first activated cellulose stream, a first washed activated cellulosestream, or a combination thereof, can undergo further processing stepsin some cases. In some embodiments, a first activated cellulose stream,a first washed activated cellulose stream, or a combination thereof canundergo a second activation step to produce a second activated cellulosestream.

In some cases, a second activation step may be conducted underconditions that increase the amount of cellulose IV in the secondactivated cellulose stream relative to the amount of cellulose IV in awashed first activated cellulose stream.

A second activation step can be carried out at any appropriatetemperature. In some embodiments, the temperature can be greater thanabout 60° C. (e.g., greater than about 70° C.). In some embodiments, thetemperature can be less than about 180° C. (e.g., less than about 170°C., 160° C., 150° C., 140° C., 130° C., 120° C., 110° C., 100° C., 90°C., or 80° C.). In some embodiments, a second activation step can beconducted at a temperature in the range of about 60° C. to about 180° C.(e.g., about 60° C. to about 160° C., about 60° C. to about 140° C.,about 60° C. to about 120° C., about 60° C. to about 100° C., about 60°C. to about 80° C., about 80° C. to about 180° C., about 80° C. to about160° C., about 80° C. to about 140° C., about 80° C. to about 120° C.,about 80° C. to about 100° C., about 100° C. to about 180° C., about100° C. to about 160° C., about 100° C. to about 140° C., about 100° C.to about 120° C., about 120° C. to about 180° C., about 120° C. to about160° C., about 120° C. to about 140° C., about 140° C. to about 180° C.,about 140° C. to about 160° C., or about 160° C. to about 180° C.).

A second activation step can be carried out at any appropriate pressure.In some embodiments, a second activation step can be conducted atsuperatmospheric pressure. For example, the pressure can be about 0.1 toabout 400 psig (e.g., about 0.1 to about 300 psig, about 0.1 to about200 psig, about 0.1 to about 100 psig, about 0.1 to about 50 psig, about0.1 to about 10 psig, about 0.1 to about 5 psig, about 0.1 to about 1psig, about 1 to about 400 psig, about 1 to about 300 psig, about 1 toabout 200 psig, about 1 to about 100 psig, about 1 to about 50 psig,about 1 to about 10 psig, about 1 to about 5 psig, about 5 to about 400psig, about 5 to about 300 psig, about 5 to about 200 psig, about 5 toabout 100 psig, about 5 to about 50 psig, about 5 to about 10 psig,about 10 to about 400 psig, about 10 to about 300 psig, about 10 toabout 200 psig, about 10 to about 100 psig, about 10 to about 50 psig,about 50 to about 400 psig, about 50 to about 300 psig, about 50 toabout 200 psig, about 50 to about 100 psig, about 100 to about 400 psig,about 100 to about 300 psig, about 100 to about 200 psig, about 200 toabout 400 psig, about 200 to about 300 psig, or about 300 to about 400psig).

The duration of a second activation step can be any appropriateduration. For example, the duration of a second activation step can beless than 180 minutes (e.g., less than 120 minutes, 90 minutes, or 60minutes). In some embodiments, the duration of a second activation stepcan be greater than 15 minutes (e.g., greater than 30 minutes or 45minutes). In some embodiments, a second activation step can have aduration of about 15 minutes to about 180 minutes (e.g., about 15 toabout 120 minutes, about 15 to about 90 minutes, about 15 to about 60minutes, about 15 to about 45 minutes, about 15 to about 30 minutes,about 30 to about 180 minutes, about 30 to about 120 minutes, about 30to about 90 minutes, about 30 to about 60 minutes, about 30 to about 45minutes, about 45 minutes to about 180 minutes, about 45 to about 120minutes, about 45 to about 90 minutes, about 45 to about 60 minutes,about 60 to about 180 minutes, about 60 to about 120 minutes, about 60to about 90 minutes, about 90 minutes to about 180 minutes, about 90 toabout 120 minutes, or about 120 to about 180 minutes). It will beappreciated that the duration of a second activation step will varydepending upon many factors including severity of the activation step,e.g., the temperature and pressure.

It will be appreciated that the temperatures, pressures, and duration ofa second activation step can be combined in any desired combination.Accordingly, for example, the second activation step may comprisesubjecting the first activated cellulose stream to a temperature between60 and 240° C. for 15 to 120 minutes at a pressure of 0 to 500 psig or atemperature between 80 and 150° C. for at least 60 minutes at a pressureof 0 to 300 psig.

A second activation step can include any appropriate conditions. In someembodiments, conditions of a second activation step can include analkali treatment. Alkali can be provided in any appropriate form. Insome embodiments, alkali can be provided in the form of one or more ofsodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, and ammonia.In some embodiments, the alkali is sodium hydroxide. The alkalitreatment can include any appropriate alkali loading. For example, thealkali loading can be between about 1% to about 10% (e.g., about 1% toabout 9%, about 1% to about 8%, about 1% to about 7%, about 1% to about6%, about 1% to about 5%, about 1% to about 4%, about 1% to about 3%,about 1% to about 2%, about 2% to about 10%, about 2% to about 9%, about2% to about 8%, about 2% to about 7%, about 2% to about 6%, about 2% toabout 5%, about 2% to about 4%, about 2% to about 3%, about 3% to about10%, about 3% to about 9%, about 3% to about 8%, about 3% to about 7%,about 3% to about 6%, about 3% to about 5%, about 3% to about 4%, about4% to about 10%, about 4% to about 9%, about 4% to about 8%, about 4% toabout 7%, about 4% to about 6%, about 4% to about 5%, about 5% to about10%, about 5% to about 9%, about 5% to about 8%, about 5% to about 7%,about 5% to about 6%, about 6% to about 10%, about 6% to about 9%, about6% to about 8%, about 6% to about 7%, about 7% to about 10%, about 7% toabout 9%, about 7% to about 8%, about 8% to about 10%, about 8% to about9%, or about 9% to about 10%) of the dry weight of the solids in thesecond activation step (e.g., a first activated cellulose stream, awashed first activated cellulose stream, or a combination thereof).Without being bound by any particular theory, it is believed that alkaliswells cellulose and further breaks inter and intramolecular hydrogenbonds of the cellulose, thereby further modifying crystalline structure.

In some embodiments, the second activating step can be performed in thepresence of an oxidizing agent. In some embodiments, the secondactivating step can be performed in the presence of an enzyme such as alaccase and/or a lignin modifying enzyme.

In some embodiments, conditions of a second activation step can includean oxidizing agent. Examples of oxidizing agents suitable for use in thesecond activation step include, without limitation, hydrogen peroxide(H₂O₂). The oxidizing agent can be loaded in any appropriate loading. Insome embodiments, the oxidizing agent can be loaded in an amount ofabout 0.0001% to about 2% (e.g., about 0.0001% to about 1%, about0.0001% to about 0.1%, about 0.0001% to about 0.01%, about 0.0001% toabout 0.001%, about 0.001% to about 2%, about 0.001% to about 1%, about0.001% to about 0.1%, about 0.001% to about 0.01%, about 0.01% to about2%, about 0.01% to about 1%, about 0.01% to about 0.1%, about 0.1% toabout 2%, about 0.1% to about 1%, or about 1% to about 2%) of the dryweight of the solids in the second activation step (e.g., a firstactivated cellulose stream, a washed first activated cellulose stream,or a combination thereof).

A second activated cellulose stream can have any appropriate solidscontent. In some embodiments, a second activated cellulose stream canhave between about 5% and 50% solids by weight, preferably between about20% and 35% solids. In some embodiments, the solids can include mainlycellulose.

A second activated cellulose stream can be subjected to one or morewashing steps after activation, e.g., remove alkali and solubilizedlignin. A second activated cellulose stream can be washed to form asecond washed activated cellulose stream. A second activated cellulosestream can be washed with water. The water can include any appropriatesolutes. In some embodiments, the wash water can have a temperature ofabout 40° C. to about 100° C. (e.g., about 40° C. to about 95° C., about40° C. to about 90° C., about 40° C. to about 80° C., about 40° C. toabout 70° C., about 40° C. to about 60° C., about 40° C. to about 50°C., about 50° C. to about 100° C., about 50° C. to about 95° C., about50° C. to about 90° C., about 50° C. to about 80° C., about 50° C. toabout 70° C., about 50° C. to about 60° C., about 60° C. to about 100°C., about 60° C. to about 95° C., about 60° C. to about 90° C., about60° C. to about 80° C., about 60° C. to about 70° C., about 70° C. toabout 100° C., about 70° C. to about 95° C., about 70° C. to about 90°C., about 70° C. to about 80° C., about 80° C. to about 100° C., about80° C. to about 95° C., about 80° C. to about 90° C., about 90° C. toabout 100° C., about 90° C. to about 95° C., or about 95° C. to about100° C.).

A second activated cellulose stream, a second washed activated cellulosestream, a first activated cellulose stream, a first washed activatedcellulose stream, or a combination thereof, can undergo furtherprocessing steps in some cases. In some embodiments, a first activatedcellulose stream, a first washed activated cellulose stream, or acombination thereof can undergo treatment with one or more enzymes toproduce a glucose-rich sugar stream.

An enzyme can be any appropriate enzyme. In some embodiments, an enzymecan be a cellulose enzyme. Treatment with an enzyme can occur at anyappropriate temperature. In some embodiments, treatment with an enzymecan occur at temperature of about 40° C. to 55° C.

In general, cellulase enzymes may be selected to break cellulose downinto monomeric sugars. For example, cellulase enzymes may be selected tohydrolyze 1,4-beta-D-glycosidic linkages into monosaccharides. Cellulaseenzymes can comprise an enzyme with at least one of cellobiohydrolase,endoglucanase, and beta-glucosidase activity. While cellulase enzymepreparations may be isolated from a number of sources such as naturalcultures of bacteria, yeast, or fungi, a person skilled in the art willappreciate that enzymes produced using recombinant techniques can beused as described herein. Examples of commercially available enzymessuitable for use with the methods described herein include, withoutlimitation, Novozymes Ctec 2 or 3, AB Enzymes Rohament.

An enzyme can be added in any appropriate loading. Enzymes may be addedat a loading of 0.1 to 120 mg, 0.2 to 60 mg or 1 to 30 mg of enzymeprotein per gram of glucan. In one embodiment, the enzymes are added ata loading of 0.1 to 5 mg of enzyme protein per gram of glucan in theactivated cellulose. In one embodiment, the enzymes are added to theactivated cellulose at a loading of about 2 to about 60 Filter PaperUnits (FPU)/g of glucan, or optionally at a loading of about 2 to 30 or1 to 15 FPU/g of glucan. The enzymes may be added separately to theactivated cellulose directly or first combined with a surfactant and/ordispersant as described subsequently.

The enzymes may be contacted with the activated cellulose for a suitablelength of time (e.g., for between 24-144 hours, between 48-144 hours,between 48-60 hours or between 24 and 72 hours) to in order to convertthe cellulose into monomeric sugars through enzymatic hydrolysis.

In some embodiments, at least about 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, or 95% ofthe theoretical yield of glucose based on the glycan content of theactivated cellulose is converted to glucose during enzymatic hydrolysisto produce a glucose-rich sugar stream. In some embodiments, enzymatichydrolysis is conducted for a predetermined length of time or until apredetermined yield of glucose is obtained. After a certain amount oftime, the rate of glucose production from the enzymatic hydrolysis ofcellulose may decrease as the cellulose substrate is depleted or thepresence of glucose inhibits the activity of the cellulase enzymes.

Optionally, an activated cellulose may be contacted with enzymes in thepresence of a surfactant and/or a dispersant. In some embodiments, thedispersant is polyaspartic acid.

A surfactant can be any appropriate surfactant. A surfactant can be anon-ionic surfactant, optionally a polysorbate surfactant such as Tween.The surfactant can also be a blend of surfactants. In some embodiments,the surfactant can be a blend of Tween 80, an alkoxylated glyceride, andnonyl phenol. In some embodiments, the surfactant is present at aloading of less than about 2% and/or greater than about 0.01%. In someembodiments, the surfactant can be present at a loading between 1% and0.01%, between 0.5% and 0.05% or between about 0.1% and 0.2% of theweight of the cellulose content in the activated cellulose.

The dispersant can be any appropriate dispersant. In some embodiments,the dispersant may be an oligopeptide, optionally a non-enzymaticpolypeptide with molecular weight between 500 and 10,000 or between 1000and 5000. The oligopeptide can be polyaspartic acid. The polyasparticacid can have a molecular weight between 500 and 10,000, between 1000and 5000, or between 3500 and 4500. The polyaspartic acid can be presentat a loading of less than about 2% and/or greater than about 0.001% ofthe weight of the cellulose content in the activated cellulose. In someembodiments, the polyaspartic acid can be present at a loading between1% and 0.001%, between 0.25% and 0.025%, or about 0.1% of the weight ofthe cellulose content in the activated cellulose.

Optionally, the ratio of surfactant to dispersant (e.g., polyasparticacid) in the enzymatic hydrolysis mix is from 0.1:1 to 10:1, optionallyfrom 0.5:1 to 2:1.

Optionally, the molar ratio of dispersant (e.g., polyaspartic acid) tothe one or more cellulase enzymes is from 0.01 to 10:1.

Accordingly, an enzymatic hydrolysis mix comprising one or morecellulase enzymes, one or more surfactants, and one or more dispersantsmay be used in any enzymatic hydrolysis process or may be used inassociation with any of the activation and enzymatic hydrolysisprocesses described herein. The enzymatic hydrolysis mix is particularlysuitable for the enzymatic hydrolysis of activated cellulose comprisingcellulose II and cellulose IV described herein.

A first soluble extract (e.g., including hemicellulose) can undergofurther processing steps in some cases. In some embodiments, firstsoluble extract can undergo one or more purification steps to form apurified hemicellulose composition.

Purification can include any appropriate purifying steps. In someembodiments, purifying steps can include one or more of: decolorizing,treating with carbon (e.g., activated carbon), performing ion exchange(IX), performing reverse osmosis, and nanofiltering, in any appropriateorder. In some embodiments, a first soluble extract is decolorized priorto any other purification steps.

Decolorizing can include any appropriate conditions. In someembodiments, decolorizing can include alkaline peroxide conditions.Without being bound by any particular theory, it is believed thatalkaline peroxide conditions work to reduce the molecular weight of thehemicellulose in the first soluble extract and/or work to releasepolyphenols and/or other color compounds from the hemicellulose. It isnoted that decolorization does not necessarily mean that thehemicellulose is completely decolored, instead, it means that the colorof the hemicellulose is typically lessened (e.g., the hemicellulosetypically becomes whiter).

Decolorizing can be carried out at any appropriate temperature. In someembodiments, the temperature can be greater than about 50° C. (e.g.,greater than about 60° C. or 70° C.). In some embodiments, thetemperature can be less than about and may be less than about 100° C.(e.g., less than about 90° C. or 80° C.). In some embodiments,decolorizing can be conducted at a temperature in the range of about 50°C. to about 250° C. (e.g., about 50° C. to about 225° C., about 50° C.to about 200° C., about 50° C. to about 175° C., about 50° C. to about150° C., about 50° C. to about 125° C., about 50° C. to about 100° C.,about 50° C. to about 75° C., about 75° C. to about 250° C., about 100°C. to about 250° C., about 125° C. to about 250° C., about 150° C. toabout 250° C., about 175° C. to about 250° C., about 200° C. to about250° C., about 225° C. to about 250° C., about 100° C. to about 200° C.,about 50° C. to about 90° C., about 60° C. to about 80° C., about 55° C.to about 85° C., about 55° C. to about 75° C., about 55° C. to about 65°C.).

Decolorizing can be carried out at any appropriate pressure. In someembodiments, decolorizing can be conducted at superatmospheric pressure.For example, the pressure can be about 0.1 to about 400 psig (e.g.,about 0.1 to about 300 psig, about 0.1 to about 200 psig, about 0.1 toabout 100 psig, about 0.1 to about 50 psig, about 0.1 to about 10 psig,about 0.1 to about 5 psig, about 0.1 to about 1 psig, about 1 to about400 psig, about 1 to about 300 psig, about 1 to about 200 psig, about 1to about 100 psig, about 1 to about 50 psig, about 1 to about 10 psig,about 1 to about 5 psig, about 5 to about 400 psig, about 5 to about 300psig, about 5 to about 200 psig, about 5 to about 100 psig, about 5 toabout 50 psig, about 5 to about 10 psig, about 10 to about 400 psig,about 10 to about 300 psig, about 10 to about 200 psig, about 10 toabout 100 psig, about 10 to about 50 psig, about 50 to about 400 psig,about 50 to about 300 psig, about 50 to about 200 psig, about 50 toabout 100 psig, about 100 to about 400 psig, about 100 to about 300psig, about 100 to about 200 psig, about 200 to about 400 psig, about200 to about 300 psig, or about 300 to about 400 psig).

The duration of decolorizing can be any appropriate duration. Forexample, the duration of decolorizing can be less than about 5 hours(e.g., less than about 4 hours or less than about 3 hours). In someembodiments, the duration of decolorizing can be greater than 1 hour(e.g., greater than 2 hours). In some embodiments, a decolorizing canhave a duration of about 1 hour to about 5 hours (e.g., about 1 hour toabout 4 hours, about 1 hour to about 3 hours, about 1 hour to about 2hours, about 2 hours to about 5 hours, about 2 hours to about 4 hours,about 2 hours to about 3 hours, about 3 hours to about 5 hours, about 3hours to about 4 hours, about 4 hours to about 5 hours, about 2 hours,about 3 hours, about 4 hours, or about 5 hours). It will be appreciatedthat the duration of decolorizing will vary depending upon many factorsincluding severity of the decolorizing step, e.g., the temperature andpressure.

It will be appreciated that the temperatures, pressures, and duration ofdecolorizing can be combined in any desired combination. Accordingly,for example, decolorizing may comprise subjecting the first solubleextract to a temperature between 60 and 80° C. for 2 to 4 hours at apressure of 0 to 500 psig or a temperature between 70 and 90° C. for atleast 1 hour at a pressure of 0 to 300 psig.

In some embodiments, decolorizing can include alkaline treatment. Alkalican be provided in any appropriate form. In some embodiments, alkali canbe provided in the form of one or more of sodium hydroxide, potassiumhydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, and ammonia. In some embodiments, thealkali is sodium hydroxide. The alkaline treatment can be at anyappropriate pH. In some embodiments, the alkaline treatment can becarried out a pH of about 9.5 to about 11.5 (e.g., about 9.5 to about11.0, about 9.5 to about 10.5, about 9.5 to about 10.0, about 10.0 toabout 11.5, about 10.0 to about 11.0, about 10.0 to about 10.5, about10.5 to about 11.5, about 10.5 to about 11.0, about 11.0 to about 11.5,about 9.5, about 10.0, about 10.5, about 11.0, or about 11.5).

In some embodiments, decolorizing can include treating with an oxidizingagent. In some embodiments, decolorizing can include or an enzyme suchas a laccase and/or a lignin modifying enzyme.

In some embodiments, decolorizing can include treating with an oxidizingagent. Examples of oxidizing agents suitable for use in decolorizingstep include, without limitation, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Theoxidizing agent can be loaded in any appropriate loading. In someembodiments, the oxidizing agent can be loaded in an amount of about 5to about 40% (e.g., about 5% to about 30%, about 5% to about 20%, about5% to about 10%, about 10% to about 40%, about 10% to about 30%, about10% to about 20%, about 20% to about 40%, about 20% to about 30%, orabout 30% to about 40%) of the dry weight of one or more components inthe hemicellulose (e.g., xylan (e.g., arabinoxylan)).

Carbon treatment can include treating a first soluble extract (or afirst soluble extract that has undergone one or more purifying steps)with carbon (e.g., activated carbon). The loading of carbon can be anyappropriate loading. For example, the carbon (e.g., activated carbon)can be used in a loading of about 0.05% to about 0.5% (e.g., 0.05% toabout 0.4%, about 0.05% to about 0.3%, about 0.05% to about 0.2%, about0.05% to about 0.1%, about 0.1% to about 0.5%, about 0.1% to about 0.4%,about 0.1% to about 0.3%, about 0.1% to about 0.2%, about 0.2% to about0.5%, about 0.2% to about 0.4%, about 0.2% to about 0.3%, about 0.3% toabout 0.5%, about 0.3% to about 0.4%, about 0.4% to about 0.5%, about0.05%, about 0.1%, about 0.2%, about 0.3%, about 0.4%, about 0.5%) bydry weight of one or more components in the hemicellulose (e.g., xylan(e.g., arabinoxylan)).

Ion exchange (e.g., of a first soluble extract or a first solubleextract that has undergone one or more purifying steps) can includepassing a first soluble extract (or a first soluble extract that hasundergone one or more purifying steps) over an ion exchange resin. Anion exchange resin can be any appropriate ion exchange resin, forexample, a cation exchange resin or an anion exchange resin. In someembodiments, both a cation exchange resin and an anion exchange resinare used during purification of a first soluble extract (or a firstsoluble extract that has undergone one or more purifying steps) (thiscan be called two-stage ion exchange).

Reverse osmosis (e.g., of a first soluble extract or a first solubleextract that has undergone one or more purifying steps) can include anyappropriate conditions. In some embodiments, a nanofiltration membrane(e.g., a filter with a pore size of about 1 to about 10 nm) can be usedin reverse osmosis. In some embodiments, an ultrafiltration membrane(e.g., a filter with a pore size of about 0.01 pm to about 0.1 μm) canbe used in reverse osmosis. Without being bound by any particulartheory, it is believed that reverse osmosis with a nanofilter can removelow molecular weight impurities, ions, and/or water can concentrate thehemicellulose.

Nanofiltering (e.g., of a first soluble extract or a first solubleextract that has undergone one or more purifying steps) can include anyappropriate conditions. Without being bound by any particular theory, itis believed that nanofiltration can remove low molecular weightimpurities, ions, and/or water and concentrate the hemicellulose.

In some embodiments, a first soluble extract can be purified by,sequentially, decolorization, carbon treatment, ion exchange, andreverse osmosis with a nanofilter to form a purified hemicellulosecomposition.

In some cases, a lignocellulosic biomass used to produce glucose (e.g.,dextrose) described herein can be the same type of lignocellulosicbiomass as the lignocellulosic biomass used to produce a purifiedhemicellulose composition described herein (e.g., both are corn stoveror both are wheat straw). In some cases, a lignocellulosic biomass usedto produce glucose (e.g., dextrose) described herein can be the samelignocellulosic biomass as the lignocellulosic biomass used to produce apurified hemicellulose composition described herein (e.g., the same lotof corn stover or the same lot of wheat straw).

Hemicellulose (e.g., crude hemicellulose) can be prepared by methodsother than those specifically disclosed herein (e.g., from alignocellulosic biomass using a first activation step as disclosedherein and washing a first activated cellulose stream to form a firstsoluble extract described herein). For example, a crude hemicellulosecan be obtained from a commercial supplier. A crude hemicellulose can,in some cases, have an alkaline pH. In some embodiments, crudehemicellulose can have a hemicellulose portion with a molecular weight(M_(w)) of at least about 20 kDa (e.g., at least about 30, 50, 75, or100 kDa). In some embodiments, hemicellulose can have a molecular weightof about 20 kDa to about 300 kDa (e.g., about 20 to about 250 kDa, about20 to about 200 kDa, about 20 to about 150 kDa, about 20 to about 100kDa, about 20 to about 50 kDa, about 50 to about 300 kDa, about 100 toabout 300 kDa, about 150 to about 300 kDa, about 200 to about 200 kDa,about 250 to about 300 kDa, or about 100 to about 200 kDa)

A crude hemicellulose can be treated to reduce the molecular weight(M_(w)) to form a reduced-mass hemicellulose. In some embodiments,alkaline conditions can be used to reduce the molecular weight of acrude hemicellulose. In some embodiments, alkaline conditions caninclude a pH of 9.5 to about 11.5 (e.g., about 9.5 to about 11.0, about9.5 to about 10.5, about 9.5 to about 10.0, about 10.0 to about 11.5,about 10.0 to about 11.0, about 10.0 to about 10.5, about 10.5 to about11.5, about 10.5 to about 11.0, about 11.0 to about 11.5, about 9.5,about 10.0, about 10.5, about 11.0, or about 11.5). Without being boundby any particular theory, it is believed that a reduction in molecularweight is related to the pH, duration, temperature, and pressure oftreatment. In some embodiments, the pressure can be atmosphericpressure. In some embodiments, the duration of alkaline treatment can beabout 30 minutes to about 8 hours (e.g., about 30 minutes to about 6hours, about 30 minutes to about 4 hours, about 30 minutes to about 2hours, about 30 minutes to about 1 hour, about 1 hour to about 8 hours,about 1 hour to about 6 hours, about 1 hour to about 4 hours, about 1hour to about 2 hours, about 2 hours to about 8 hours, about 2 hours toabout 6 hours, about 2 hours to about 4 hours, about 4 hours to about 8hours, about 4 hours to about 6 hours, or about 6 hours to about 8hours). In some embodiments, the temperature can be about 60° C. toabout 150° C. (e.g., about 60° C. to about 140° C., about 60° C. toabout 120° C., about 60° C. to about 100° C., about 60° C. to about 80°C., about 60° C. to about 100° C., about 80° C. to about 150° C., about80° C. to about 140° C., about 80° C. to about 120° C., about 80° C. toabout 100° C., about 100° C. to about 150° C., about 100° C. to about140° C., about 100° C. to about 120° C., about 100° C. to about 150° C.,about 100° C. to about 140° C., about 100° C. to about 120° C., about120° C. to about 150° C., about 120° C. to about 140° C., about 140° C.to about 150° C., about 60° C., about 70° C., about 80° C., about 90°C., about 100° C., about 110° C., about 120° C., about 130° C., about140° C., or about 150° C.). The alkaline treatment can reduce themolecular weight to a desired molecular weight, depending on theconditions. In some embodiments, the molecular weight of thealkaline-treated hemicellulose can be about 4500 to about 6500 Da (e.g.,about 4500 to about 6000 Da, about 4500 to about 5500 Da, about 4500 toabout 5000 Da, about 5000 to about 6500 Da, about 5000 to about 6000 Da,about 5000 to about 5500 Da, about 5500 to about 6500, about 5500 toabout 6000 Da, or about 6000 to about 6500 Da).

A reduced-mass hemicellulose can be purified using any appropriatepurifying steps to form a purified hemicellulose composition describedherein. In some embodiments, a reduced-mass hemicellulose can bepurified using any of the purifying steps as described herein to from apurified hemicellulose composition. In some embodiments, a reduced-masshemicellulose can undergo treating with carbon (e.g., activated carbon),performing ion exchange (IX), performing reverse osmosis, ornanofiltering, in any appropriate order, to form a purifiedhemicellulose composition. In some embodiments, a purified hemicellulosecomposition made from a reduced-mass hemicellulose can be used in asweetener composition, such as any of the sweetener compositionsdescribed herein.

In some embodiments, a reduced-mass hemicellulose can be combined with adecolorized hemicellulose, in any appropriate ratio. For example, about25% to about 75% (e.g., about 25% to about 50%, about 50% to about 75%,about 25%, about 50%, or about 75%) by dry weight of reduced-masshemicellulose can be combined with about 25% to about 75% (e.g., about25% to about 50%, about 50% to about 75%, about 25%, about 50%, or about75%) by dry weight of decolorized hemicellulose. Such a combination, insome embodiments, can undergo treating with carbon (e.g., activatedcarbon), performing ion exchange (IX), performing reverse osmosis, ornanofiltering, in any appropriate order, to form a purifiedhemicellulose composition. In some embodiments, a purified hemicellulosecomposition made from a combination of a reduced-mass hemicellulose anda decolorized hemicellulose can be used in a sweetener composition, suchas any of the sweetener compositions described herein.

A purified hemicellulose composition can be dried (e.g., partially orfully dried). A purified hemicellulose composition can be dried usingany appropriate method. For example, in some embodiments, a purifiedhemicellulose composition can be dried using spray drying, mat drying,or freeze drying.

This document also provides methods of preparing a sweetenercomposition. Any of the sweetener compositions described herein can beprepared by the methods described herein. Methods of preparing asweetener composition can include combining glucose (e.g., as dextrose,or a combination of glucose and dextrose) and a purified hemicellulosecomposition. Combining can include any appropriate steps. In someembodiments, combining can include mixing, blending, agitating,dissolving, emulsifying, or a combination thereof. For example, in someembodiments, dry glucose and a dry purified hemicellulose compositioncan be mixed together, and, optionally, water can be added to form asyrup (e.g., at about 70% to about 80% dry matter). In some embodiments,a dry purified hemicellulose composition can be added to a glucose syrup(e.g., by mixing, blending, dissolving, or a combination thereof). Insome embodiments, dry glucose can be added to a purified hemicellulosecomposition in the form of a syrup (e.g., by mixing, blending,dissolving, or a combination thereof). In some embodiments, a glucosesyrup can be combined (e.g., by mixing or blending) with a purifiedhemicellulose composition in the form of a syrup. The purifiedhemicellulose composition can be any of the purified hemicellulosecompositions described herein. The glucose and the purifiedhemicellulose composition can be combined in any appropriate ratio, forexample, to yield any of the sweetener compositions described herein.For example, in some embodiments, about 1 to about 20 (e.g., about 1 toabout 15, about 1 to about 10, about 1 to about 5, about 5 to about 20,about 5 to about 15, about 5 to about 10, about 10 to about 20, about 10to about 15, about 15 to about 20, about 1, about 2, about 5, about 10,about 15, or about 20) parts by dry weight of glucose can be combinedwith about 1 part by dry weight of purified hemicellulose. For example,in some embodiments, about 1 to about 20 (e.g., about 1 to about 15,about 1 to about 10, about 1 to about 5, about 5 to about 20, about 5 toabout 15, about 5 to about 10, about 10 to about 20, about 10 to about15, about 15 to about 20, about 1, about 2, about 5, about 10, about 15,or about 20) parts by dry weight of purified hemicellulose can becombined with about 1 part by dry weight of glucose.

In one embodiment, the composition comprising glucose and purifiedhemicellulose is prepared by the following method:

lignocellulosic biomass is treated with steam to extract, hydrolyze andseparate the hemicellulose from the lignocellulosic biomass matrix.(See, e.g., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US20180119188(A1) orPCT Publication No. WO2016161515(A1) for exemplary treatment, both ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.)

hemicellulose is recovered by washing with water, (See, e.g., U.S.Patent Application Publication No. US20180119188(A1) or PCT PublicationNo. WO2016161515(A1) for exemplary washing details.)

hemicellulose is purified by sequential treatment with activated carbon(to remove organic impurities) and then a two stage ion exchange(cationic/anionic) to remove inorganic impurities.

hemicellulose is optionally concentrated and or dried.

Although in the forgoing example hemicellulose is purified by sequentialtreatment with activated carbon and then two stage ion exchange, it willbe understood by a person of skill in the art that there are alternativemethods known in the art for purifying hemicellulose, which may achievea similarly purified product.

Concentration of the hemicellulose can be carried out, for example, byevaporation or reverse osmosis. Reverse osmosis may also be used topre-concentrate the hemicellulose followed by evaporation. Variousdrying methods are known in the art and can be used alone or incombination with various concentration methods. A preferred evaporationmethod to preserve taste and/or color, is falling film evaporation undervacuum. Preferred drying methods to preserve taste and/or color arefreeze drying or spray drying.

The sweetener compositions comprising dextrose and hemicellulosedescribed herein can be used in the production of foods and beverages.They can also be used as additives in pharmaceutical composition orsupplements, particularly those that are administered orally.Supplements may include but are not limited to natural health products,fiber supplements, vitamin or mineral supplements, protein or amino acidsupplements and the like. A sweetener composition described herein canalso be sold for use as a sugar substitute for home use such as incooking or baking or as a condiment.

A sweetener composition comprising dextrose and purified hemicellulosedescribed herein may be used as a food ingredient that providesproperties other than sweetness to a food product. For example, theratio of dextrose and purified hemicellulose may be selected to provideincreased viscosity or moisture retention properties and may impart verylittle or no sweet flavor. In a further aspect, the purifiedhemicellulose can be used alone as a food additive as a source ofsoluble fiber and or prebiotics. In some embodiments, the purifiedhemicellulose will be hydrolyzed or partially hydrolyzed. The purifiedhemicellulose may include xylose and xylo-oligosaccharide and xylan. Thepurified hemicellulose may further include other sugar polymers. Theother sugar polymers may also be hydrolyzed or partially hydrolyzed totheir component sugars or oligosaccharides of those sugars. In oneembodiment, the purified hemicellulose can include up to 10% of othersugar polymers. In some embodiments of the purified, hydrolyzedhemicellulose, the amount of xylan can range from 20-95%, the amount ofxylo-oligosaccharide can range from 5-60%, and the xylose can range from1-40%. In some embodiments, the amount of xylan can range from 50-95%,the amount of xylo-oligosaccharide can range from 5-30%, and the xylosecan range from 1-25%. In some embodiments, the purified hydrolyzedhemicellulose comprises about 87% xylan, about 9% xylo-oligosaccharide,and about 4% xylose.

In another aspect, there is provided a composition comprising partiallyhydrolyzed cellulose and partially or fully hydrolyzed hemicellulose.The composition may be used as a sweetener or food additive and may beused to impart sweetness or viscosity or a combination thereof. In someembodiments, the composition comprises dextrose, oligosaccharides ofdextrose, and purified hemicellulose. In some embodiments, the purifiedhemicellulose comprises xylose, xylo-oligosaccharides, and xylan. Instill a further aspect, the composition of the purified hemicellulosemay further include other sugar polymers. The other sugar polymers mayalso be hydrolyzed or partially hydrolyzed to their component sugars oroligosaccharides of those sugars. In some embodiments, the purifiedhemicellulose can include up to 10% of other sugar polymers. In someembodiments of the purified, hydrolyzed hemicellulose, the amount ofxylan can range from 20-95%, the amount of xylo-oligosaccharide canrange from 5-60%, and the xylose can range from 1-40%. In someembodiments, the amount of xylan can range from 50-95%, the amount ofxylo-oligosaccharide can range from 5-30%, and the xylose can range from1-25%. In some embodiments, the purified hydrolyzed hemicellulosecomprises about 87% xylan, about 9% xylo-oligosaccharide, and about 4%xylose.

In a further aspect, the compositions as described herein can be used astaste modulators. The composition can be used to modulate the taste ofother sweeteners including high potency sweeteners and bulk sweeteners,such as erythritol.

EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

-   -   Embodiment 1 is a sweetener composition comprising:        -   about 5% to about 95% by dry weight of glucose; and        -   about 5% to about 95% by dry weight of a purified            hemicellulose.    -   Embodiment 2 is the sweetener composition of embodiment 1,        wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises xylose,        xylo-oligosaccharide, and xylan.    -   Embodiment 3 is the sweetener composition of embodiment 1 or        embodiment 2, wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises        hydrolysis products of xylose, hydrolysis products of        xylo-oligosaccharide, or hydrolysis products of xylan.    -   Embodiment 4 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-3, wherein the sweetener composition comprises        about 30% to about 75% by dry weight of glucose.    -   Embodiment 5 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-3, wherein the sweetener composition comprises        about 40% to about 60% by dry weight of glucose.    -   Embodiment 6 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-3, wherein the sweetener composition comprises        about 45% to about 55% by dry weight of glucose.    -   Embodiment 7 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-6, wherein the sweetener composition comprises        about 30% to about 75% by dry weight of purified hemicellulose.    -   Embodiment 8 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-6, wherein the sweetener composition comprises        about 40% to about 60% by dry weight of purified hemicellulose.    -   Embodiment 9 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-8, wherein the sweetener composition comprises        about 45% to about 55% by dry weight of purified hemicellulose.    -   Embodiment 10 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-8, wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises        about 20% to about 95% by dry weight of xylan.    -   Embodiment 11 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-8, wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises        about 30% to about 95% by dry weight of xylan.    -   Embodiment 12 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-8, wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises        about 50% to about 95% by dry weight of xylan.    -   Embodiment 13 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-8, wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises        about 80% to about 95% by dry weight of xylan.    -   Embodiment 14 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-13, wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises        about 87% by dry weight of xylan.    -   Embodiment 15 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 2-14, wherein the xylan comprises about 70% to about        99% by dry weight of arabinoxylan.    -   Embodiment 16 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 2-14, wherein the xylan comprises about 80% to about        99% by dry weight of arabinoxylan.    -   Embodiment 17 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 2-14, wherein the xylan comprises about 90% to about        99% by dry weight of arabinoxylan.    -   Embodiment 18 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 2-14, wherein the xylan comprises about 95% to about        99% by dry weight of arabinoxylan.    -   Embodiment 19 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-18, wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises        about 5% to about 60% by dry weight of xylo-oligosaccharide.    -   Embodiment 20 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-18, wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises        about 5% to about 30% by dry weight of xylo-oligosaccharide.    -   Embodiment 21 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-18, wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises        about 5% to about 15% by dry weight of xylo-oligosaccharide.    -   Embodiment 22 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-18, wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises        about 9% by dry weight of xylo-oligosaccharide.    -   Embodiment 23 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-22, wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises        about 0.1% to about 25% by dry weight of xylose.    -   Embodiment 24 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-22, wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises        about 0.1% to about 40% by dry weight of xylose.    -   Embodiment 25 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-22, wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises        about 0.1% to about 10% by dry weight of xylose.    -   Embodiment 26 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-22, wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises        about 4% by dry weight of xylose.    -   Embodiment 27 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-26, wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises        glucomannan, maltose, or a combination thereof.    -   Embodiment 28 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-26, wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises        less than 10% by dry weight of glucomannan, maltose, or a        combination thereof.    -   Embodiment 29 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-26, wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises        less than 5% by dry weight of glucomannan, maltose, or a        combination thereof.    -   Embodiment 30 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-26, wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises        less than 1% by dry weight of glucomannan, maltose, or a        combination thereof.    -   Embodiment 31 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-30, wherein the sweetener composition comprises        less than 10% by dry weight of glucomannan, maltose, or a        combination thereof.    -   Embodiment 32 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-30, wherein the sweetener composition comprises        less than 5% by dry weight of glucomannan, maltose, or a        combination thereof.    -   Embodiment 33 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-30, wherein the sweetener composition comprises        less than 1% by dry weight of glucomannan, maltose, or a        combination thereof.    -   Embodiment 34 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-33, wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises        less than 10% by dry weight of a sugar or a sugar polymer that        is not xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide, xylan, or a hydrolysis        product thereof.    -   Embodiment 35 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-33, wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises        less than 5% by dry weight of a sugar or a sugar polymer that is        not xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide, xylan, or a hydrolysis product        thereof.    -   Embodiment 36 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-33, wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises        less than 1% by dry weight of a sugar or a sugar polymer that is        not xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide, xylan, or a hydrolysis product        thereof.    -   Embodiment 37 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-36, wherein the sweetener composition comprises        less than 10% by dry weight of a sugar or a sugar polymer that        is not dextrose, xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide, xylan, or a        hydrolysis product thereof.    -   Embodiment 38 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-36, wherein the sweetener composition comprises        less than 5% by dry weight of a sugar or a sugar polymer that is        not dextrose, xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide, xylan, or a        hydrolysis product thereof.    -   Embodiment 39 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-36, wherein the sweetener composition comprises        less than 1% by dry weight of a sugar or a sugar polymer that is        not dextrose, xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide, xylan, or a        hydrolysis product thereof.    -   Embodiment 40 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-39, wherein the sweetener composition has a DE of        about 35 to about 75.    -   Embodiment 41 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-39, wherein the sweetener composition has a DE of        about 40 to about 65.    -   Embodiment 42 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-39, wherein the sweetener composition has a DE of        42, 53, or 63.    -   Embodiment 43 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-39, wherein the sweetener composition has a DE of        42.    -   Embodiment 44 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-39, wherein the sweetener composition has a DE of        53.    -   Embodiment 45 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-39, wherein the sweetener composition has a DE of        63.    -   Embodiment 46 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-45, wherein the sweetener composition has a        glycemic index of about 35 to about 50.    -   Embodiment 47 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-45, wherein the sweetener composition has a        glycemic index of about 40 to about 45.    -   Embodiment 48 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-45, wherein the sweetener composition has a        glycemic index of about 42.    -   Embodiment 49 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-48, wherein the sweetener composition provides        about 175 to about 225 calories per 100 g of the sweetener        composition.    -   Embodiment 50 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-48, wherein the sweetener composition provides        about 180 to about 200 calories per 100 g of the sweetener        composition.    -   Embodiment 51 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-48, wherein the sweetener composition provides        about 190 calories per 100 g of the sweetener composition.    -   Embodiment 52 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-51, wherein the sweetener composition comprises        soluble fiber.    -   Embodiment 53 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-52, wherein the sweetener composition comprises        about 20 g to about 60 g of soluble fiber per 100 g of the        sweetener composition.    -   Embodiment 54 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-52, wherein the sweetener composition comprises        about 35 g to about 45 g of soluble fiber per 100 g of the        sweetener composition.    -   Embodiment 55 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-52, wherein the sweetener composition comprises        about 41 g of soluble fiber per 100 g of the sweetener        composition.    -   Embodiment 56 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-55, wherein the sweetener composition comprises        prebiotics.    -   Embodiment 57 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-55, wherein the sweetener composition comprises        about 2 g to about 6 g of prebiotics per 100 g of the sweetener        composition.    -   Embodiment 58 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-55, wherein the sweetener composition comprises        about 3 g to about 5 g of prebiotics per 100 g of the sweetener        composition.    -   Embodiment 59 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-55, wherein the sweetener composition comprises        about 4 g of prebiotics per 100 g of the sweetener composition.    -   Embodiment 60 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-59, wherein the sweetener composition does not        comprise insoluble fiber.    -   Embodiment 61 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-60, wherein the glucose is provided, at least in        part, in the form of dextrose.    -   Embodiment 62 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-61, wherein the sweetener composition is a solid.    -   Embodiment 63 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-61, wherein the sweetener composition is a syrup.    -   Embodiment 64 is the sweetener composition of embodiment 63,        wherein the sweetener composition has a viscosity of about 2500        to about 3000 cP at a temperature of 120° C.    -   Embodiment 65 is the sweetener composition of embodiment 63,        wherein the sweetener composition has a viscosity of about 2700        to about 2900 cP at a temperature of 120° C.    -   Embodiment 66 is the sweetener composition of embodiment 63,        wherein the sweetener composition has a viscosity of about 2800        cP at a temperature of 120° C.    -   Embodiment 67 is a sweetener composition comprising:        -   about 48% to about 53% by dry weight of dextrose;        -   about 41% to about 45% by dry weight of xylan;        -   about 4% to about 5% by dry weight of xylo-oligosaccharides;            and        -   about 2% to about 2.5% by dry weight of xylose.    -   Embodiment 68 is a sweetener composition comprising:        -   about 50% by dry weight of dextrose;        -   about 43% by dry weight of xylan;        -   about 4% by dry weight of xylo-oligosaccharides; and        -   about 2% by dry weight of xylose.    -   Embodiment 69 is a food product comprising the sweetener        composition of any one of embodiments 1-68.    -   Embodiment 70 is a pharmaceutical composition comprising the        sweetener composition of any one of embodiments 1-68.    -   Embodiment 71 is a dietary supplement comprising the sweetener        composition of any one of embodiments 1-68.    -   Embodiment 72 is a use of a sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-68 in a food product.    -   Embodiment 73 is a use of a sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-68 in a pharmaceutical composition.    -   Embodiment 74 is a use of a sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-68 in a dietary supplement.    -   Embodiment 75 is a method of sweetening a food product        comprising adding a sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-68 to the food product.    -   Embodiment 76 is a method of sweetening a pharmaceutical        composition comprising adding a sweetener composition of any one        of embodiments 1-68 to the pharmaceutical composition.    -   Embodiment 77 is a method of sweetening a dietary supplement        comprising adding a sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 1-68 to the dietary supplement.    -   Embodiment 78 is a method of reducing the calorie content of a        food product prepared from a recipe comprising:        -   providing a recipe including an amount of a sugar or sugar            syrup; and        -   preparing the food product according to the recipe, but            replacing at least a portion of the amount of the sugar or            sugar syrup with a sweetener composition of any one of            embodiments 1-68 in an amount of about 50% to about 150% of            the portion of the amount of the sugar or sugar syrup.    -   Embodiment 79 is a method of reducing the glycemic index of a        food product prepared from a recipe comprising:        -   providing a recipe including an amount of a sugar or sugar            syrup; and        -   preparing the food product according to the recipe, but            replacing at least a portion of the amount of the sugar or            sugar syrup with a sweetener composition of any one of            embodiments 1-68 in an amount of about 50% to about 150% of            the portion of the amount of the sugar or sugar syrup.    -   Embodiment 80 is the method of embodiment 78 or embodiment 79,        wherein the portion of the amount of the sugar or sugar syrup is        replaced with a sweetener composition of any one of embodiments        1-68 in an amount of about 80% to about 120% of the portion of        the amount of the sugar or sugar syrup.    -   Embodiment 81 is the method of embodiment 78 or embodiment 79,        wherein the portion of the amount of the sugar or sugar syrup is        replaced with a sweetener composition of any one of embodiments        1-68 in an amount of about 100% of the portion of the amount of        the sugar or sugar syrup.    -   Embodiment 82 is a purified hemicellulose composition        comprising:        -   about 82% to about 92% by dry weight of xylan;        -   about 8% to about 9% by dry weight of xylo-oligosaccharide;            and        -   about 4% to about 5% by dry weight of xylose.    -   Embodiment 83 is a purified hemicellulose composition        comprising:        -   about 87% to about 88% by dry weight of xylan;        -   about 8% to about 9% by dry weight of xylo-oligosaccharide;            and        -   about 4% to about 5% by dry weight of xylose.    -   Embodiment 84 is a purified hemicellulose composition        comprising:        -   about 87.3% by dry weight of xylan;        -   about 8.5% by dry weight of xylo-oligosaccharide; and        -   about 4.2% by dry weight of xylose.    -   Embodiment 85 is the purified hemicellulose composition of any        one of embodiments 82-84, wherein the purified hemicellulose        composition is off-white.    -   Embodiment 86 is the purified hemicellulose composition of any        one of embodiments 82-85, wherein the purified hemicellulose        composition has a molecular weight (M_(w)) of less than 4000 Da.    -   Embodiment 87 is the purified hemicellulose composition of any        one of embodiments 82-86, wherein the purified hemicellulose        composition has a polyphenol content of less than about 0.5% by        dry weight.    -   Embodiment 88 is the purified hemicellulose composition of any        one of embodiments 82-87, wherein the purified hemicellulose        composition has an antioxidant level of less than about 10000        μmol TE/100 g.    -   Embodiment 89 is the purified hemicellulose composition of any        one of embodiments 82-88, wherein the purified hemicellulose        composition has a purity of at least 95%.    -   Embodiment 90 is the purified hemicellulose composition of any        one of embodiments 82-89, wherein the xylan comprises about 70%        to about 99% by dry weight of arabinoxylan.    -   Embodiment 91 is the purified hemicellulose composition of any        one of embodiments 82-90, wherein the xylan comprises about 80%        to about 99% by dry weight of arabinoxylan.    -   Embodiment 92 is the purified hemicellulose composition of any        one of embodiments 82-90, wherein the xylan comprises about 90%        to about 99% by dry weight of arabinoxylan.    -   Embodiment 93 is the purified hemicellulose composition of any        one of embodiments 82-90, wherein the xylan comprises about 95%        to about 99% by dry weight of arabinoxylan.    -   Embodiment 94 is a food product comprising the purified        hemicellulose composition of any one of embodiments 82-93.    -   Embodiment 95 is a sweetener composition comprising the purified        hemicellulose composition of any one of embodiments 82-93.    -   Embodiment 96 is a pharmaceutical composition comprising the        purified hemicellulose composition of any one of embodiments        82-93.    -   Embodiment 97 is a dietary supplement comprising the purified        hemicellulose composition of any one of embodiments 82-93.    -   Embodiment 98 is a use of a purified hemicellulose composition        of any one of embodiments 82-93 in a food product.    -   Embodiment 99 is a use of a purified hemicellulose composition        of any one of embodiments 82-93 in a sweetener composition.    -   Embodiment 100 is a use of a purified hemicellulose composition        of any one of embodiments 82-93 in a pharmaceutical composition.    -   Embodiment 101 is a use of a purified hemicellulose composition        of any one of embodiments 82-93 in a dietary supplement.    -   Embodiment 102 is a method of preparing purified hemicellulose        comprising:        -   providing a lignocellulosic biomass;        -   combining the lignocellulosic biomass with water;        -   activating the lignocellulosic biomass and water using            conditions comprising a first temperature and a first            pressure to form a first activated cellulose stream;        -   washing the first activated cellulose stream to form a            washed first activated cellulose stream and a first soluble            extract, wherein the first soluble extract comprises            hemicellulose; and        -   purifying the first soluble extract to form purified            hemicellulose.    -   Embodiment 103 is the method of embodiment 102, wherein the        first temperature is about 190° C. to about 225° C.    -   Embodiment 104 is the method of embodiment 102 or embodiment        103, wherein the first pressure is about 200 to about 500 psig.    -   Embodiment 105 is the method of any one of embodiments 102-104,        wherein the activating step has a duration of about 1 to about        30 minutes.    -   Embodiment 106 is the method of any one of embodiments 102-105,        wherein washing comprises washing with water at a temperature of        about 40° C. and about 100° C.    -   Embodiment 107 is the method of any one of embodiments 102-106,        wherein purifying comprises one or more of decolorizing,        treating with carbon, performing ion exchange (IX), performing        reverse osmosis, nanofiltering, or a combination thereof.    -   Embodiment 108 is the method of embodiment 107, wherein treating        with carbon is treating with activated carbon.    -   Embodiment 109 is the method of embodiment 107, wherein        performing IX comprises performing two-stage ion exchange.    -   Embodiment 110 is the method of embodiment 107, wherein        performing reverse osmosis comprises using a nanofiltration        membrane.    -   Embodiment 111 is the method of any one of embodiments 107-110,        wherein decolorizing comprises alkaline peroxide treatment.    -   Embodiment 112 is the method of any one of embodiments 107-110,        wherein decolorizing comprises conditions comprising a pH of        about 9.5 to about 11.5.    -   Embodiment 113 is the method of any one of embodiments 107-110,        wherein decolorizing comprises conditions comprising a pH of        about 10.0 to about 11.0.    -   Embodiment 114 is the method of any one of embodiments 107-111,        wherein decolorizing comprises peroxide treatment.    -   Embodiment 115 is the method of embodiment 114, wherein peroxide        treatment comprises a peroxide loading of about 5% to about 40%        based on the dry weight of a xylan component of the        hemicellulose.    -   Embodiment 116 is the method of embodiment 114, wherein peroxide        treatment comprises a peroxide loading of about 5% to about 40%        based on the dry weight of an arabinoxylan component of the        hemicellulose.    -   Embodiment 117 is the method of any one of embodiments 107-116,        wherein decolorizing has a duration of about 1 to about 5 hours.    -   Embodiment 118 is the method of any one of embodiments 107-116,        wherein decolorizing has a duration of about 2 to about 4 hours.    -   Embodiment 119 is the method of any one of embodiments 107-118,        wherein decolorizing is performed at a temperature of about        50° C. to about 100° C.    -   Embodiment 120 is the method of any one of embodiments 107-118,        wherein decolorizing is performed at a temperature of about        60° C. to about 80° C.    -   Embodiment 121 is the method of any one of embodiments 102-108,        wherein purifying comprises, sequentially, decolorizing,        treating with carbon, performing ion exchange (IX), and        performing reverse osmosis, to form purified hemicellulose.    -   Embodiment 122 is the method of any one of embodiments 102-121,        further comprising adding a reduced-mass hemicellulose to a        decolorized hemicellulose.    -   Embodiment 123 is the method of embodiment any one of        embodiments 102-122, further comprising drying the purified        hemicellulose.    -   Embodiment 124 is a purified hemicellulose prepared by the        method of any one of embodiments 102-123.    -   Embodiment 125 is a method of preparing a sweetener composition        comprising: providing glucose;        -   providing purified hemicellulose; and        -   combining the glucose and the purified hemicellulose to form            a sweetener composition.    -   Embodiment 126 is the method of embodiment 124, wherein the        glucose comprises glucose prepared from lignocellulosic biomass.    -   Embodiment 127 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-126,        wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises purified        hemicellulose prepared from lignocellulosic biomass.    -   Embodiment 128 is the method of embodiment 126 or embodiment        127, wherein the lignocellulosic biomass comprises hard wood,        soft wood, plant stems, plant stalks, or a combination thereof.    -   Embodiment 129 is the method of embodiment 126 or embodiment        127, wherein the lignocellulosic biomass comprises wheat straw,        wheat flour, wheat bran, corn stover, sugarcane bagasse, hard        wood, soft wood, or a combination thereof.    -   Embodiment 130 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-129,        wherein the glucose is prepared by a method comprising steam        treatment of a lignocellulosic biomass, enzymatic treatment of a        lignocellulosic biomass, or a combination thereof.    -   Embodiment 131 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-130,        wherein the purified hemicellulose is prepared by a method        comprising steam treatment of a lignocellulosic biomass,        enzymatic treatment of a lignocellulosic biomass, or a        combination thereof.    -   Embodiment 132 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-131,        wherein the hemicellulose is prepared by the method of any one        of embodiments 102-123.    -   Embodiment 133 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-132,        wherein the purified hemicellulose is the purified hemicellulose        of any one of embodiments 82-93.    -   Embodiment 134 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-133,        wherein about 1-20 parts by dry weight of glucose are combined        with about 1 part by dry weight of purified hemicellulose.    -   Embodiment 135 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-133,        wherein about 1 part by dry weight of glucose is combined with        about 1 part by dry weight of purified hemicellulose.    -   Embodiment 136 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-135,        wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises xylose,        xylo-oligosaccharide, and xylan.    -   Embodiment 137 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-135,        wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises hydrolysis products        of xylose, hydrolysis products of xylo-oligosaccharide, or        hydrolysis products of xylan.    -   Embodiment 138 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-137,        wherein the sweetener composition comprises about 30% to about        75% by dry weight of glucose.    -   Embodiment 139 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-137,        wherein the sweetener composition comprises about 40% to about        60% by dry weight of glucose.    -   Embodiment 140 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-137,        wherein the sweetener composition comprises about 45% to about        55% by dry weight of glucose.    -   Embodiment 141 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-140,        wherein the sweetener composition comprises about 30% to about        75% by dry weight of purified hemicellulose.    -   Embodiment 142 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-140,        wherein the sweetener composition comprises about 40% to about        60% by dry weight of purified hemicellulose.    -   Embodiment 143 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-140,        wherein the sweetener composition comprises about 45% to about        55% by dry weight of purified hemicellulose.    -   Embodiment 144 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-143        wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises about 20% to about        95% by dry weight of xylan.    -   Embodiment 145 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-143,        wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises about 30% to about        95% by dry weight of xylan.    -   Embodiment 146 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-143,        wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises about 50% to about        95% by dry weight of xylan.    -   Embodiment 147 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-143,        wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises about 80% to about        95% by dry weight of xylan.    -   Embodiment 148 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-143,        wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises about 87% by dry        weight of xylan.    -   Embodiment 149 is the method of any one of embodiments 135-148,        wherein the xylan comprises about 70% to about 99% by dry weight        of arabinoxylan.    -   Embodiment 150 is the method of any one of embodiments 135-148,        wherein the xylan comprises about 80% to about 99% by dry weight        of arabinoxylan.    -   Embodiment 151 is the method of any one of embodiments 135-148,        wherein the xylan comprises about 90% to about 99% by dry weight        of arabinoxylan.    -   Embodiment 152 is the method of any one of embodiments 135-148,        wherein the xylan comprises about 95% to about 99% by dry weight        of arabinoxylan.    -   Embodiment 153 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-152,        wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises about 5% to about        60% by dry weight of xylo-oligosaccharide.    -   Embodiment 154 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-152,        wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises about 5% to about        30% by dry weight of xylo-oligosaccharide.    -   Embodiment 155 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-152,        wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises about 5% to about        15% by dry weight of xylo-oligosaccharide.    -   Embodiment 156 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-152,        wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises about 9% by dry        weight of xylo-oligosaccharide.    -   Embodiment 157 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-156,        wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises about 0.1% to about        25% by dry weight of xylose.    -   Embodiment 158 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-156,        wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises about 0.1% to about        40% by dry weight of xylose.    -   Embodiment 159 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-156,        wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises about 0.1% to about        10% by dry weight of xylose.    -   Embodiment 160 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-156,        wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises about 4% by dry        weight of xylose.    -   Embodiment 161 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-160,        wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises glucomannan,        maltose, or a combination thereof.    -   Embodiment 162 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-161,        wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises less than 10% by        dry weight of glucomannan, maltose, or a combination thereof.    -   Embodiment 163 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-161,        wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises less than 5% by dry        weight of glucomannan, maltose, or a combination thereof.    -   Embodiment 164 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-161,        wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises less than 1% by dry        weight of glucomannan, maltose, or a combination thereof.    -   Embodiment 165 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-164,        wherein the sweetener composition comprises less than 10% by dry        weight of glucomannan, maltose, or a combination thereof.    -   Embodiment 166 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-164,        wherein the sweetener composition comprises less than 5% by dry        weight of glucomannan, maltose, or a combination thereof.    -   Embodiment 167 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-164,        wherein the sweetener composition comprises less than 1% by dry        weight of glucomannan, maltose, or a combination thereof.    -   Embodiment 168 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-167,        wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises less than 10% by        dry weight of a sugar or a sugar polymer that is not xylose,        xylo-oligosaccharide, xylan, or a hydrolysis product thereof.    -   Embodiment 169 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-167,        wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises less than 5% by dry        weight of a sugar or a sugar polymer that is not xylose,        xylo-oligosaccharide, xylan, or a hydrolysis product thereof.    -   Embodiment 170 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-167,        wherein the purified hemicellulose comprises less than 1% by dry        weight of a sugar or a sugar polymer that is not xylose,        xylo-oligosaccharide, xylan, or a hydrolysis product thereof.    -   Embodiment 171 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-170,        wherein the sweetener composition comprises less than 10% by dry        weight of a sugar or a sugar polymer that is not dextrose,        xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide, xylan, or a hydrolysis product        thereof.    -   Embodiment 172 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-170,        wherein the sweetener composition comprises less than 5% by dry        weight of a sugar or a sugar polymer that is not dextrose,        xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide, xylan, or a hydrolysis product        thereof.    -   Embodiment 173 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-170,        wherein the sweetener composition comprises less than 1% by dry        weight of a sugar or a sugar polymer that is not dextrose,        xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide, xylan, or a hydrolysis product        thereof.    -   Embodiment 174 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-173,        wherein the sweetener composition has a DE of about 35 to about        75.    -   Embodiment 175 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-173,        wherein the sweetener composition has a DE of about 40 to about        65.    -   Embodiment 176 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-173,        wherein the sweetener composition has a DE of 42, 53, or 63.    -   Embodiment 177 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-173,        wherein the sweetener composition has a DE of 42.    -   Embodiment 178 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-173,        wherein the sweetener composition has a DE of 53.    -   Embodiment 179 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-173,        wherein the sweetener composition has a DE of 63.    -   Embodiment 180 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-179,        wherein the sweetener composition has a glycemic index of about        35 to about 50.    -   Embodiment 181 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-179,        wherein the sweetener composition has a glycemic index of about        40 to about 45.    -   Embodiment 182 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-179,        wherein the sweetener composition has a glycemic index of about        42.    -   Embodiment 183 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-182,        wherein the sweetener composition provides about 175 to about        225 calories per 100 g of the sweetener composition.    -   Embodiment 184 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-182,        wherein the sweetener composition provides about 180 to about        200 calories per 100 g of the sweetener composition.    -   Embodiment 185 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-182,        wherein the sweetener composition provides about 190 calories        per 100 g of the sweetener composition.    -   Embodiment 186 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-185,        wherein the sweetener composition comprises soluble fiber.    -   Embodiment 187 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-186,        wherein the sweetener composition comprises about 20 g to about        60 g of soluble fiber per 100 g of the sweetener composition.    -   Embodiment 188 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-186,        wherein the sweetener composition comprises about 35 g to about        45 g of soluble fiber per 100 g of the sweetener composition.    -   Embodiment 189 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-186,        wherein the sweetener composition comprises about 41 g of        soluble fiber per 100 g of the sweetener composition.    -   Embodiment 190 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-189,        wherein the sweetener composition comprises prebiotics.    -   Embodiment 191 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-189,        wherein the sweetener composition comprises about 2 g to about 6        g of prebiotics per 100 g of the sweetener composition.    -   Embodiment 192 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-189        wherein the sweetener composition comprises about 3 g to about 5        g of prebiotics per 100 g of the sweetener composition.    -   Embodiment 193 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-189,        wherein the sweetener composition comprises about 4 g of        prebiotics per 100 g of the sweetener composition.    -   Embodiment 194 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-193,        wherein the sweetener composition does not comprise insoluble        fiber.    -   Embodiment 195 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-194,        wherein the glucose is provided, at least in part, in the form        of dextrose.    -   Embodiment 196 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-195,        wherein the sweetener composition is a solid.    -   Embodiment 197 is the method of any one of embodiments 125-196,        wherein the sweetener composition is a syrup.    -   Embodiment 198 is the method of embodiment 197, wherein the        sweetener composition has a viscosity of about 2500 to about        3000 cP at a temperature of 120° C.    -   Embodiment 199 is the method of embodiment 197, wherein the        sweetener composition has a viscosity of about 2700 to about        2900 cP at a temperature of 120° C.    -   Embodiment 200 is the method of embodiment 197, wherein the        sweetener composition has a viscosity of about 2800 cP at a        temperature of 120° C.    -   Embodiment 201 is a sweetener composition prepared by the method        of any one of embodiments 125-200.    -   Embodiment 202 is a food product comprising a sweetener        composition prepared by the method of any one of embodiments        125-200.    -   Embodiment 203 is a pharmaceutical composition comprising a        sweetener composition prepared by the method of any one of        embodiments 125-200.    -   Embodiment 204 is a dietary supplement comprising a sweetener        composition prepared by the method of any one of embodiments        125-200.    -   Embodiment 205 is a use of a sweetener composition prepared by        the method of any one of embodiments 125-200 in a food product.    -   Embodiment 206 is a use of a sweetener composition prepared by        the method of any one of embodiments 125-200 in a pharmaceutical        composition.    -   Embodiment 207 is a use of a sweetener composition prepared by        the method of any one of embodiments 125-200 in a dietary        supplement.    -   Embodiment 208 is a food product comprising:        -   an amount of the sweetener composition of any one of            embodiments 1-68,        -   wherein the food product has organoleptic properties            comparable to a similar food product comprising an amount of            an alternate sweetener composition other than the sweetener            composition, wherein the amount of the sweetener composition            in the food product is from about 50% to about 150% of the            amount of the alternate sweetener composition in the similar            food product.    -   Embodiment 209 is the food product of embodiment 208, wherein a        dextrose equivalent (DE) of the sweetener composition is from        about 50% to about 150% of a DE of the alternate sweetener        composition.    -   Embodiment 210 is the food product of any one of embodiments        208-209, wherein the food product has a calorie content of no        more than about 95% of a calorie content of the similar food        product.    -   Embodiment 211 is the food product of any one of embodiments        208-209, wherein the food product has a calorie content of no        more than about 92% of a calorie content of the similar food        product.    -   Embodiment 212 is the food product of any one of embodiments        208-211, wherein a serving of the food product provides at least        one gram more of dietary fiber than a serving of the similar        food product.    -   Embodiment 213 is the food product of any one of embodiments        208-211, wherein a serving of the food product provides at least        two grams more of dietary fiber than a serving of the similar        food product.    -   Embodiment 214 is the food product of any one of embodiments        208-213, wherein the DE of the sweetener composition of any one        of embodiments 1-68 is about 30 to about 75.    -   Embodiment 215 is the food product of any one of embodiments        208-213, wherein the DE of the sweetener composition of any one        of embodiments 1-68 is 42, 53, or 63.    -   Embodiment 216 is a sweetener composition comprising:        -   glucose, xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide, and xylan.    -   Embodiment 217 is the sweetener composition of embodiment 216,        wherein the glucose, xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide, and xylan are        obtained from lignocellulosic biomass.    -   Embodiment 218 is the sweetener composition of embodiment 216 or        217, wherein the glucose is obtained from cellulose, and the        xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide, and xylan are obtained from        hemicellulose.    -   Embodiment 219 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 216-218 having a DE of from 35-75.    -   Embodiment 220 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 216-219 having a DE of 42, 53, or 63.    -   Embodiment 221 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 216-220 having a DE of 53.    -   Embodiment 222 is the sweetener composition of embodiment 216,        wherein the viscosity is about 2800 at 120° F. (cP).    -   Embodiment 223 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 216-222, wherein the sweetener composition has fewer        calories per gram than corn syrup of the same DE.    -   Embodiment 224 is a sweetener composition comprising 50.4 wt %        dextrose, 2.1 wt % xylose, 4.2 wt % xylo-oligosaccharide, and        43.3 wt % xylan.    -   Embodiment 225 is a method of making a sweetener from        lignocellulosic biomass comprising:        -   obtaining glucose;        -   obtaining a purified hemicellulose; and        -   combining the glucose and the purified hemicellulose.    -   Embodiment 226 is the method of embodiment 225, wherein the        glucose is dextrose obtained by hydrolysis of cellulose.    -   Embodiment 227 is the method of embodiment 225, wherein the        purified hemicellulose is comprised of a mixture of xylose,        xylo-oligosaccharide and xylan.    -   Embodiment 228 is the method of embodiment 225 or 227, wherein        the purified hemicellulose is prepared by steam treatment of        lignocellulosic biomass.    -   Embodiment 229 is the method of embodiment 225 or 227, wherein        the purified hemicellulose is prepared by enzymatic treatment of        lignocellulosic biomass.    -   Embodiment 230 is the method of embodiments 225 or 227, wherein        the purified hemicellulose is prepared by steam treatment and        enzymatic treatment of lignocellulosic biomass.    -   Embodiment 231 is the method of any one of embodiments 225-230,        wherein the glucose and the mixture of xylose,        xylo-oligosaccharide, and xylan are combined in a proportion to        provide a sweetener having a desired dextrose equivalent (DE)        value.    -   Embodiment 232 is the method of embodiment 231, wherein the DE        value is in the range of 35-75.    -   Embodiment 233 is the method of embodiment 232, wherein the DE        is in the range of 40-64.    -   Embodiment 234 is the method of embodiment 233, wherein the DE        is 53, 42, or 63.    -   Embodiment 235 is the method of any one of embodiments 225-234,        wherein the glucose and purified hemicellulose are produced in        the same processing facility and/or from the same source of        lignocellulosic material.    -   Embodiment 236 is the use of a sweetener according to any one of        embodiments 216-224 in a food or beverage.    -   Embodiment 237 is the use of a sweetener according to any one of        embodiments 216-224 in a pharmaceutical or supplement.    -   Embodiment 238 is a food additive comprising purified        hemicellulose where the hemicellulose is purified by sequential        treatment with activated carbon (to remove organic impurities)        and then two stage ion exchange (cationic/anionic) to remove        inorganic impurities.    -   Embodiment 239 is a food additive of embodiment 238, wherein the        purified hemicellulose is partially hydrolyzed to provide a        mixture of xylan, xylo-oligosaccharide, and xylose.    -   Embodiment 240 is the food additive of embodiment 239, wherein        the amount of xylan can range from 20-95%, the amount of        xylo-oligosaccharide can range from 5-60% and the xylose can        range from 1-40%.    -   Embodiment 241 is the food additive of embodiment 239 or 240,        wherein the purified hemicellulose further comprises other sugar        polymers such as glucuronoxylan, arabinoxylan, glucomannan, and        xyloglucan and sugars derived therefrom.    -   Embodiment 242 is the food additive of embodiment 239,        comprising about 87% xylan, about 9% xylo-oligosaccharide and        about 4% xylose.    -   Embodiment 243 is the food additive of any one of embodiments        238-241, wherein the purified hemicellulose is a source of        soluble fiber.    -   Embodiment 244 is the food additive of any one of embodiments        238-241, wherein the purified hemicellulose is a source of        prebiotics.    -   Embodiment 245 is the use of a food additive according to any        one of embodiments 238-244 in a food or beverage.    -   Embodiment 246 is the use of a food additive according to any        one of embodiments 238-244 in a pharmaceutical or supplement.    -   Embodiment 247 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 216-224, wherein the xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide,        and xylan are a source of soluble fiber.    -   Embodiment 248 is the sweetener composition of any one of        embodiments 216-224, wherein the xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide,        and xylan are a source of prebiotics.    -   Embodiment 249 is a purified hemicellulose composition        comprising about 85% to about 95% by dry weight of xylan, about        5% to about 25% by dry weight of xylo-oligosaccharide, and about        0% to about 5% by dry weight of xylose.    -   Embodiment 250 is the purified hemicellulose composition of        embodiment 249, wherein the purified hemicellulose composition        comprises about 85% to about 93% by dry weight of xylan.    -   Embodiment 251 is the purified hemicellulose composition of        embodiment 249, wherein the purified hemicellulose composition        comprises about 85% to about 91% by dry weight of xylan.    -   Embodiment 252 is the purified hemicellulose composition of        embodiment 249, wherein the purified hemicellulose composition        comprises about 85% to about 89% by dry weight of xylan.    -   Embodiment 253 is the purified hemicellulose composition of        embodiment 249, wherein the purified hemicellulose composition        comprises about 85% to about 87% by dry weight of xylan.    -   Embodiment 254 is the purified hemicellulose composition of        embodiment 249, wherein the purified hemicellulose composition        comprises about 87% to about 95% by dry weight of xylan.    -   Embodiment 255 is the purified hemicellulose composition of        embodiment 249, wherein the purified hemicellulose composition        comprises about 89% to about 95% by dry weight of xylan.    -   Embodiment 256 is the purified hemicellulose composition of        embodiment 249, wherein the purified hemicellulose composition        comprises about 91% to about 95% by dry weight of xylan.    -   Embodiment 257 is the purified hemicellulose composition of        embodiment 249, wherein the purified hemicellulose composition        comprises about 93% to about 95% by dry weight of xylan.    -   Embodiment 258 is the purified hemicellulose composition of        embodiment 249, wherein the purified hemicellulose composition        comprises about 87% to about 93% by dry weight of xylan.    -   Embodiment 259 is the purified hemicellulose composition of        embodiment 249, wherein the purified hemicellulose composition        comprises about 86% to about 88% by dry weight of xylan.    -   Embodiment 260 is the purified hemicellulose composition of        embodiment 249, wherein the purified hemicellulose composition        comprises about 88% to about 92% by dry weight of xylan.    -   Embodiment 261 is the purified hemicellulose composition of        embodiment 249, wherein the purified hemicellulose composition        comprises about 90% to about 95% by dry weight of xylan.    -   Embodiment 262 is the purified hemicellulose composition of any        one of embodiments 249-261, wherein the purified hemicellulose        composition comprises about 5% to about 20% by dry weight of        xylo-oligosaccharide.    -   Embodiment 263 is the purified hemicellulose composition of any        one of embodiments 249-261, wherein the purified hemicellulose        composition comprises about 5% to about 15% by dry weight of        xylo-oligosaccharide.    -   Embodiment 264 is the purified hemicellulose composition of any        one of embodiments 249-261, wherein the purified hemicellulose        composition comprises about 5% to about 10% by dry weight of        xylo-oligosaccharide.    -   Embodiment 265 is the purified hemicellulose composition of any        one of embodiments 249-261, wherein the purified hemicellulose        composition comprises about 5% to about 8% by dry weight of        xylo-oligosaccharide.    -   Embodiment 266 is the purified hemicellulose composition of any        one of embodiments 249-261, wherein the purified hemicellulose        composition comprises about 10% to about 25% by dry weight of        xylo-oligosaccharide.    -   Embodiment 267 is the purified hemicellulose composition of any        one of embodiments 249-261, wherein the purified hemicellulose        composition comprises about 15% to about 25% by dry weight of        xylo-oligosaccharide.    -   Embodiment 268 is the purified hemicellulose composition of any        one of embodiments 249-261, wherein the purified hemicellulose        composition comprises about 20% to about 25% by dry weight of        xylo-oligosaccharide.    -   Embodiment 269 is the purified hemicellulose composition of any        one of embodiments 249-261, wherein the purified hemicellulose        composition comprises about 10% to about 20% by dry weight of        xylo-oligosaccharide.    -   Embodiment 270 is the purified hemicellulose composition of any        one of embodiments 249-261, wherein the purified hemicellulose        composition comprises about 6% to about 12% by dry weight of        xylo-oligosaccharide.    -   Embodiment 271 is the purified hemicellulose composition of any        one of embodiments 249-261, wherein the purified hemicellulose        composition comprises about 8% to about 10% by dry weight of        xylo-oligosaccharide.    -   Embodiment 272 is the purified hemicellulose composition of any        one of embodiments 249-271, wherein the purified hemicellulose        composition comprises about 0% to about 4% by dry weight of        xylose.    -   Embodiment 273 is the purified hemicellulose composition of any        one of embodiments 249-271, wherein the purified hemicellulose        composition comprises about 0% to about 2% by dry weight of        xylose.    -   Embodiment 274 is the purified hemicellulose composition of any        one of embodiments 249-271, wherein the purified hemicellulose        composition comprises about 0% to about 1% by dry weight of        xylose.    -   Embodiment 275 is the purified hemicellulose composition of any        one of embodiments 249-271, wherein the purified hemicellulose        composition comprises about 0% to about 0.5% by dry weight of        xylose.    -   Embodiment 276 is the purified hemicellulose composition of any        one of embodiments 249-271, wherein the purified hemicellulose        composition comprises about 0% to about 0.1% by dry weight of        xylose.    -   Embodiment 277 is the purified hemicellulose composition of any        one of embodiments 249-271, wherein the purified hemicellulose        composition comprises about 0.1% to about 5% by dry weight of        xylose.    -   Embodiment 278 is the purified hemicellulose composition of any        one of embodiments 249-271, wherein the purified hemicellulose        composition comprises about 0.5% to about 5% by dry weight of        xylose.    -   Embodiment 279 is the purified hemicellulose composition of any        one of embodiments 249-271, wherein the purified hemicellulose        composition comprises about 1% to about 5% by dry weight of        xylose.    -   Embodiment 280 is the purified hemicellulose composition of any        one of embodiments 249-271, wherein the purified hemicellulose        composition comprises about 2% to about 5% by dry weight of        xylose.    -   Embodiment 281 is the purified hemicellulose composition of any        one of embodiments 249-271, wherein the purified hemicellulose        composition comprises about 4% to about 5% by dry weight of        xylose.    -   Embodiment 282 is the purified hemicellulose composition of any        one of embodiments 249-271, wherein the purified hemicellulose        composition comprises about 0.1% to about 5% by dry weight of        xylose.    -   Embodiment 283 is the purified hemicellulose composition of any        one of embodiments 249-271, wherein the purified hemicellulose        composition comprises about 0.1% to about 4% by dry weight of        xylose.    -   Embodiment 284 is the purified hemicellulose composition of any        one of embodiments 249-271, wherein the purified hemicellulose        composition comprises about 0.1% to about 2% by dry weight of        xylose.    -   Embodiment 285 is the purified hemicellulose composition of any        one of embodiments 249-271, wherein the purified hemicellulose        composition comprises about 0.1% to about 1% by dry weight of        xylose.    -   Embodiment 286 is the purified hemicellulose composition of any        one of embodiments 249-271, wherein the purified hemicellulose        composition comprises about 0.1% to about 0.5% by dry weight of        xylose.    -   Embodiment 287 is the purified hemicellulose composition of any        one of embodiments 249-271, wherein the purified hemicellulose        composition comprises about 0.5% to about 4% by dry weight of        xylose.    -   Embodiment 288 is the purified hemicellulose composition of any        one of embodiments 249-271, wherein the purified hemicellulose        composition comprises about 0.5% to about 2% by dry weight of        xylose.    -   Embodiment 289 is the purified hemicellulose composition of any        one of embodiments 249-271, wherein the purified hemicellulose        composition comprises about 0.5% to about 1% by dry weight of        xylose.    -   Embodiment 290 is a sweetener composition comprising the        purified hemicellulose composition of any one of embodiments        249-289.    -   Embodiment 291 is a pharmaceutical composition comprising the        purified hemicellulose composition of any one of embodiments        249-289.    -   Embodiment 292 is a dietary supplement comprising the purified        hemicellulose composition of any one of embodiments 249-289.    -   Embodiment 293 is a use of a purified hemicellulose composition        of any one of embodiments 249-289 in a food product.    -   Embodiment 294 is a use of a purified hemicellulose composition        of any one of embodiments 249-289 in a sweetener composition.    -   Embodiment 295 is a use of a purified hemicellulose composition        of any one of embodiments 249-289 in a pharmaceutical        composition.    -   Embodiment 296 is a use of a purified hemicellulose composition        of any one of embodiments 249-289 in a dietary supplement.

EXAMPLES Example 1

A lignocellulosic composition comprising partially hydrolyzedhemicellulose combined with dextrose was prepared. The compositioncomprises dextrose, xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide and xylan in theproportions shown in Table 1.

Table 1 compares the chemical composition of a sweetener derived fromlignocellulosic biomass “Lignocellulosic syrup” with a standard cornsyrup sweetener. The Lignocellulosic syrup was prepared from partiallyhydrolyzed hemicellulose composition and glucose derived from cellulose.The cellulose and hemicellulose were derived from the same source oflignocellulosic biomass. The Lignocellulosic syrup composition comprises50.4% dextrose, 43.3% xylan, 4.2% xylo-oligosaccharide and 2.1% xylosewhile the corn syrup contains maltose and maltotriose but no xylose orxylo-oligosaccharides. Furthermore, the higher saccharides found in thecorn syrup are C6 polysaccharides having a degree of polymerization2::4, as compared to the C5 polysaccharide, xylan, found in theLignocellulosic Syrup.

TABLE 1 Lignocellulosic Syrup Corn Syrup DE (Dextrose Equivalent) 53Percent Dextrose (wt %) 50.4% Dry Solids (OS) (wt % ) 80 80 Composition:Dextrose 50.4 28 Maltose 0 18 Maltotriose 0 13 Xylose 2.1 0 XOS 4.2 0Higher saccharides 43.3 (xylan) 41 (DP4+ C6 saccharides) DP4+ = degreeof polymerization 2::4

Example 2

Table 2 compares the chemical and physical properties of aLignocellulosic Syrup comprising 50.4 dextrose and a 53 DE Corn Syrup.As shown in the Table 2, the lignocellulosic syrup composition asdescribed in Table 1 has a viscosity of 2800 at 120° F. (cP) this iscomparable to the viscosity of 1800 observed for corn syrup. Viscosityof the compositions was measured using the standard procedure ASTMMethod D7042.

TABLE 2 Lignocellulosic Syrup Corn Syrup Dry Solids (OS) (%) 80 80Viscosity @ 120° F. (cP) 2800 1800 Calories/100 g 190 336 Soluble Fiber(g/100 g) 41 0 Insoluble Fiber (g/100 g) 0 0 Glycemic Index (glucose =100) 42 105 Prebiotics (g/100 g) 4 0 Appearance Clear liquid Clearliquid Taste Sweet, bland Sweet, bland Odour CharacteristicCharacteristic

Although the viscosity of the two sweeteners is similar, thelignocellulosic syrup has significantly fewer calories than the cornsyrup. The lignocellulosic syrup also has more soluble fiber and a lowerglycemic index. The lignocellulosic syrup is also a source of prebioticswhile the corn syrup is not.

The lower calorie sweetener that provides the same degree of sweetnessand viscosity can be used to lower the calorie count of the foods intowhich it is incorporated. This feature is highly advantageous inproducing foods and beverages for use with reduced calorie diets whichare favored when trying to lose weight or prevent weight gain.

Example 3

It has further been found that glucose produced from lignocellulose hasa lower overall carbon emission than glucose produced from starch. Inparticular, emissions from the production of dextrose from corn stoverversus corn grain based dextrose were quantified and are presented inTable 3. As shown in Table 3, corn stover derived dextrose results inlower emission intensities than grain based dextrose. GHG emissionreductions are quantified as 0.61 tonnes CO2-e/tonne dextrose.

TABLE 3 Stover Based Dextrose versus Com Based Dextrose Emissions Cornstover Corn grain Net emission dextrose (CO2e dextrose (CO2e Reduction(CO2e Tonnes/Tonne Tonnes/Tonne Tonnes/Tonne Dextrose) Dextrose)Dextrose) 0.34 0.95 0.61 (Emission reduction = corn grain emission −corn stover emission; positive value = net reduction in emissions.)

Emissions reductions per tonne hemicellulose and lignin have beencalculated and compared to emissions from the productions of sugarcanemolasses. The results are presented in Table 4. As it can be seen,hemicellulose and lignin result in similar emission intensities to thatof sugarcane molasses. The emission intensity for hemicellulose andlignin has been quantified as 0.17 and 0.04 tonnes Core/tonne materialhigher than sugarcane molasses.

TABLE 4 Hemicellulose and Lignin vs. Cane Molasses Net emissionHemicellulose/lignin Cane molasses Reductions (CO2e (CO2e (CO2eTonnes/Tonne Tonnes/Tonne Tonnes/Tonne Dextrose) Dextrose) Dextrose)Hemicellulose vs. 0.50 0.33 −0.17 cane molasses Lignin vs. 0.36 0.33−0.04 cane molasses

The emission intensities are calculated based on a combination offactors including anticipated one time set up and decommissioningemissions and ongoing up-stream, on site and down-stream emissions.

Example 4

Wheat straw was treated using steam for a given temperature and time(activation step; see, e.g., U.S. Patent Application Publication No.US20180119188(A1)), rendering the crude/unpurified hemicellulose watersoluble.

The material was water extracted, and the liquid unpurifiedhemicellulose was removed via vacuum filtration.

Unpurified hemicellulose was then treated with alkaline peroxideconditions and elevated temperature. The pH was about 9.5 to about 11.5(e.g., about 10.5). A peroxide loading of 5-40% (e.g., 10-20%) (w/w)based on the dry AX content was used. The temperature was between 60° C.and 80° C. (e.g., about 60° C.) for a period of about 2 hours to about 4hours (e.g., about 2 hours). In general, the higher the temperature, thelower a time is used. Typically, temperatures above 100° C. are notused, as they generally include a pressurized system which is morecomplicated and expensive. This treatment was employed to removepolyphenols and other color compounds related to lignin and degradationproducts from the AX molecule. Molecular weight of AX drops during thisstep, so the reaction can be optimized for a given color removal andmolecular weight. Molecular weight can affect physical properties (e.g.,viscosity, water/oil binding) as well as prebiotic properties (forexample, certain gut bacteria digest certain molecular weight AXdifferently). Molecular weight and degree of color removal (e.g., thedegree of polyphenol left on the AX molecule) can affect downstreampurification; membrane separation is a preferred approach, but if themolecular weight of the AX is similar to the molecular weight of removedcolor compound(s), then other methods can be used such as carbon or ionexchange (IX) (e.g., adsorption separation methods). When using carbonor IX, polyphenols still attached to the AX can adsorb onto carbon andIX, thereby reducing AX recovery (yield).

The alkaline peroxide treated hemicellulose was then purified to removeimpurities from AX as follows (the order of these steps can be varied):

-   -   a. Activated carbon—can remove color compounds and degradation        products as well as protein    -   b. IX—can remove color, degradation products, salts    -   c. Nanofiltration and/or reverse osmosis—can remove low        molecular weight impurities and water (e.g., to concentrate the        product before either evaporation to a syrup or drying)

AX with at purity greater than 95% with little or no polyphenols orcolor was the final product and can be evaporated to a concentratedsyrup, or dried to a powder. Some properties of the prepared AX areshown in Table 5.

TABLE 5 Property AX MW (Da) <4000 Colour Off white Polyphenol (%) <0.5%(estimated) Purity (%) >95% Antioxidant level (umol TE/100 g) <10000(estimated)

Example 6

An improved process was developed to produce sweetener syrups fromagricultural coproducts such as corn stalks and wheat straw. The syrupshave properties similar to conventional corn syrups, but with reducedcalories and increased fiber content. The performance of the 63DE syrupwas evaluated in target applications relative to standard commercialingredients.

63DE corn syrup is typically used in baking and confectioneryapplications to provide sweetness, texture, and binding. The performanceof Comet 63DE syrup relative to a commercial 63DE corn syrup in piefilling, taffy chews, soft cookie, and cereal bar applications wasevaluated.

Results:

-   -   1. Comet 63DE syrup exhibited good functionality in the pie        filling, taffy chew, and cereal bar applications.    -   2. Comet syrup resulted in noticeably less spread in the soft        chocolate chip cookies.    -   3. A modest (10%) calorie reduction was observed in the Comet        pie filling (89 g per serving) and cereal bars, but not in the        chews (40 g per serving) or cookies (30 g per serving).    -   4. A modest sugar reduction was also observed in the Comet pie        filling and taffy chews.    -   5. An increase in fiber (1-3 g per serving) was observed in all        Comet applications tested.    -   6. Substituting Comet syrup and solids for all the conventional        corn syrup and sugar used in applications such as taffy chews        and cereal bars has potential to yield greater calorie,        carbohydrate, and sugar reductions along with increased fiber.

Materials & Methodology:

Cherry Pie Filling. Cherry pie filling formulas are shown in Table 6.

TABLE 6 Control 63DE Corn Syrup Comet 63DE Syrup Formula Weight SyrupSolids Formula Weight Syrup Solids Ingredient Supplier (%) (g) (g) (%)(g) (g) IQF Dark Cherries Wild Harvest 49.93% 250.00 49.35% 250.00 Water26.66% 133.50 25.58% 129.60 63DE corn syrup (80% Cargill 11.68% 58.5040.95 0.00% 0.00 solids) 63DE syrup (60% solids) Comet 0.00% 0.00 13.47%68.25 40.95 Sugar Domino 8.29% 41.50 8.19% 41.50 Red Food coloringMcCormick 0.14% 0.70 0.14% 0.70 Pure-gel food starch GPC 3.10% 15.503.06% 15.50 Salt Cargill 0.10% 0.50 0.10% 0.50 Citric acid Tate & Lyle0.10% 0.50 0.10% 0.50 Total 100.00 500.70 100.00 506.55

Procedure for Cherry Pie Filling:

-   -   1. Thoroughly mix starch and 30% of the water. Set aside.    -   2. Mix sugar, corn syrup, salt, citric acid, 20% of the        cherries, and remaining 70% water. Bring slowly to boil.    -   3. Add starch slurry. Continue heating to 190° F. with stirring.    -   4. Add remaining cherries and red food coloring. Stir until        cherries and coloring are fully incorporated

Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies. Soft chocolate chip cookie formulas areshown in Table 7.

TABLE 7 Ingredients Control 63DE Corn Syrup Comet 63DE Syrup SolidsFormula Weight Total Solids Water Formula Weight Total Solids WaterIngredient Supplier (%) (%) (g) (g) (g) (%) (g) (g) (g) Light brownsugar C&H, retail 12.54% 62.70 12.54% 62.70 Shortening, all purposeCargill  100% 11.81% 59.05 59.05 11.81% 59.05 59.05 Water    0% 2.42%12.10 12.10 1.34% 6.71 6.71 63DE corn syrup Cargill 80.00% 12.54% 62.7050.16 12.54 63DE syrup Comet 60.00% 16.72% 83.60 50.16 33.44 Whole eggpowder Oskaloosa Food 100.00%  1.08% 5.39 5.39 1.08% 5.39 5.39 ProductsCorp. Water  0.00% 3.10% 15.51 15.51 0.00% 0.00 Vanilla extractMcCormick 0.70% 3.50 0.70% 3.50 Flour, all purpose Gold Medal, retail26.76% 133.80 26.76% 133.80 Baking soda Church & Dwight 0.50% 2.50 0.50%2.50 Salt Cargill 0.11% 0.55 0.11% 0.55 Semi-sweet chocolate Nestle28.44% 142.20 28.44% 142.20 chips Total 100.00% 500.00 114.60 40.15100.00% 500.00 114.60 40.15

Procedure:

-   -   1. Cream shortening and sugar in KitchenAid mixer for 30 seconds        on speed 1, then 1 minute on speed 4. Add egg, corn syrup,        vanilla, and water, then mix again for 30 seconds on speed 1 and        1 minute on speed 4    -   2. Stir in the flour, soda, and salt. Mix on slow speed until        dough forms, scraping bowl as needed.    -   3. Stir in chocolate chips on low speed for 15 seconds or until        dispersed consistently throughout dough.    -   4. Drop 25-27 g balls of dough on parchment lined pan. Bake at        350° F. for 11 minutes. Cool for 1-2 minutes before removing        from pan, then place on wire rack to cool completely.

Chews. Taffy Chew formulas are shown in Table 8.

TABLE 8 Ingredient Cargill 63DE Corn Syrup Comet 63DE Syrup SolidsFormula Weight Solids Formula Weight Solids Ingredient Supplier (%) (%)(g) (g) (%) (g) (g) Water 4.80 25.20 0.00 0.00 Sugar Domino 40.56 213.0040.56 213.00 Corn syrup 43DE Cargill 23.74 124.65 23.74 124.65 Cornsyrup 63DE Cargill 82.50% 12.83 67.35 55.56 0.00 0.00 Comet 63DE syrupComet 60.00% 0.00 0.00 17.63 92.60 55.56 Coconut oil, Hain 7.20 37.807.20 37.80 organic Celestial Sweetened condensed Eagle 10.15 53.30 10.1553.30 milk Lecithin Cargill 0.19 1.00 0.19 1.00 Red food color McCormick0.06 0.30 0.06 0.30 Flavor 0.48 2.50 0.48 2.50 Total 100.00 525.10100.00 525.15

Procedure.

-   -   1. Mix water, sugar, syrups, coconut oil, and lecithin in pan.    -   2. While continuously stirring, heat to 252° F.    -   3. Transfer mixture to heated (150° F.) KitchenAid mixer bowl.    -   4. Add sweetened condensed milk and mix on speed 4 for two        minutes.    -   5. Add flavor and color. Mix on speed 4 for thirteen minutes.    -   6. Pour mixture onto cold marble slab to cool.    -   7. Cut into pieces and wrap.

Cereal Bars. Cereal bar formulas are shown in Tables 9 and 10.

TABLE 9 Control Formula: 1 Control Bars start cooked solids IngredientSupplier % g (g) (g) (%) Syrup Clearsweet 63/43DE Cargill 58.5 117.0solids 93.6 87.2 corn syrup (80.0% solids) water 23.4 23.0 −0.4 g waterComet 63DE syrup Comet Briefly (60.0% solids) heated to dissolve SugarC&H, retail 32.0 64.0 64.0 64.0 Salt Morton, retail 1.0 2.0 Canola OilEssential 6.5 13.0 Everyday, retail Topcithin UB Lecithin Cargill 1.02.0 Vanilla McCormick, 1.0 2.0 retail Syrup Total 100.0 200.0 181 174.286.8 target solids Bar Old Fashioned Rolled Essential 35.0 87.5 OatsEveryday, retail Rice Krispies Kellogg's, retail 10.0 25.0 87 brix Syrup35.0 87.5 (from above) Milk Chocolate Chips Nestle Toll 20.0 50.00House, retail

TABLE 10 Comet Formula: 2 Comet Bars start cooked solids IngredientSupplier % g (g) (g) (%) Syrup Clearsweet 63/43DE Cargill corn syrup(80.0% solids) Comet 63DE syrup Comet 72.7 145.4 solids 87.2 87.2 (60.0%solids) water 58.2 24.0 −34.2 g water Sugar C&H, retail 32.0 72.0 72.072.0 Salt Morton, retail 1.0 2.0 Canola Oil Essential 6.5 13.0 Everyday,retail Topcithin UB Lecithin Cargill 1.0 2.0 Vanilla McCormick, 1.0 2.0retail Syrup Total 118.2 236.4 217.4 183.2 86.9 target solids Bar OldFashioned Rolled Essential 35.0 87.5 Oats Everyday, retail Rice KrispiesKellogg's, retail 10.0 25.0 87 brix Syrup 35.0 87.5 (from above) MilkChocolate Chips Nestle Toll 20.0 50.00 House, retail Bar Total 100.0250.0

Procedure.

-   -   1. Weigh chocolate chips in a small cup and place in freezer.    -   2. Weigh rolled oats and rice crisps into bowl. Set aside.    -   3. Weigh sugar and syrup into small saucepan.    -   4. Cook syrup over medium-high heat to target solids content (by        weight loss).    -   5. Add salt, oil, lecithin, and vanilla to cooked syrup and stir        well.    -   6. Weigh syrup into oats and rice mixture. Mix well.    -   7. Add frozen chocolate chips and mix.    -   8. Press into greased pan. Cool, cut, and wrap bars.

Nutrition Facts

Nutrition facts panels were generated using Genesis software andingredient database. Comet 63DE nutrition profile was adjusted for 60%solids and used in the analysis.

Results

Cherry Pie Filling

In this study, Comet 63DE syrup was evaluated on an equal syrup solidsbasis to a commercial 63DE corn syrup Control in a cherry pie fillingapplication. The Control syrup was 82.5% solids and the Comet 63DE syrupsample was 60% solids, so some water was added to the Control formula toequalize the solids. The appearance and texture of Comet 63DE piefilling was good and comparable to the Control during preparation of thefilling and also in the finished baked pie application (FIGS. 2 and 3 ).

Nutrition facts were calculated for a ⅓ cup (89 g) serving of eachfilling. The analysis shows that the Comet pie filling has 10% fewerCalories (100 vs 110), slightly lower sugars (21 g vs 24 g) and 3 g ofadded fiber per serving (FIG. 4 ).

Fruit-On-the-Bottom Yogurt

A paper exercise was conducted to estimate what a simple strawberryfruit-on-the-bottom formulated with sugar vs Comet 63DE syrup might looklike. First, a yogurt formulation that matches the serving size andnutritional profile of Dannon Strawberry Fruit-On-The-Bottom yogurt wascreated using Genesis nutrition analysis software (Table 11).

Then, Comet 63DE syrup (78% dry solids) was substituted for sugar andwater at equivalent sweetness using the assumption that Comet 63DE is70% as sweet as sugar, similar to conventional 63DE corn syrup.

TABLE 11 SUGAR CONTROL YOGURT COMET YOGURT Ingredient % Ingredient %Plain lowfat yogurt 75.0 Plain lowfat yogurt 75.0 Sugar 9.0 Comet 63DEsyrup 12.8 Water 7.0 Water 3.2 Fresh strawberries 7.0 Fresh strawberries7.0 Modified food starch 2.0 Modified food starch 2.0 Total 100.0 Total100.0

By making the Comet substitution, Calories were reduced by 8% (120 vs130 kcals), sugars were reduced by 18% (18 g vs 22 g), and fiber wasincreased to 5 g per serving. Total Carbohydrates increased slightly,from 25 g to 26 g per serving. The Nutrition Facts panels are shown inFIG. 5 for comparison.

Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies

Corn syrups are used in cookie formulations to provide soft and chewytexture. In this study, Comet syrup was compared to 63DE corn syrup atequal solids and water content. There were no differences observed inthe appearance and handling of the raw dough.

In the baked cookies, Comet syrup resulted in less spread than theControl syrup. The average diameter (n=11) of the Comet cookies was 2.2inches compared to 2.6 inches for the Control cookies (Table 12), andthis difference was visually apparent (FIGS. 6 and 7 ). The Cometcookies had a more mounded appearance and cakey texture. The reducedspread observed in the Comet cookies can likely be attributed to fiberin the Comet syrup. It is possible that formula modifications can bemade to improve the spread of the Comet cookies. There was no differencein browning or bake time between treatments.

TABLE 12 Comet 63DE Syrup Control 63DE Syrup Dough 25-27 g Dough 25-27 gDiameter of cookie Diameter of cookie (inches) (inches) 2.20 2.70 2.102.55 2.00 2.55 2.20 2.70 2.20 2.45 2.25 2.60 2.25 2.50 2.15 2.50 2.202.50 2.25 2.55 2.25 2.55 Average 2.19 Average 2.56

Nutrition facts were calculated for both cookie formulas (FIG. 8 ).There was no difference in Calories or sugar content of the cookies, butthe Comet cookies did contain 2 g of fiber compared to 1 g in theControl.

Taffy Chews

63DE corn syrup is used for sweetness, texture, and to prevent sweetnessin confectionery chew applications. In this study, Comet syrup wassubstituted for 63DE corn syrup, at equal solids content, in a 63DE and42DE blend to produce a chewy candy prototype. The Comet syrup blendperformed well in this application and comparable to the 63DE corn syrupControl with respect to appearance and texture (FIG. 9 ).

No difference in Calories was observed per 40 g serving, but the Cometchews had slightly lower sugar content (27 g vs 28 g) and 2 g of fibercompared to none in the Control (FIG. 10 ).

Because a fair amount of the sugar and calories in this taffy chewformula is coming from the conventional 42DE corn syrup, a paperexercise was conducted to evaluate the impact of substituting Comet 42DEsyrup into this candy chew formula. This exercise demonstrated that apotential reduction in calories (130 vs 160), total carbohydrates (32 vs34), and sugar (26 vs 28) may be achieved using the combination of bothComet 63DE and Comet 42DE syrups (FIG. 10 ).

Cereal Bars

Corn syrups are typically used in cereal bars, granola bars, proteinbars, etc. for sweetness, binding, and texture. Both 63DE, 42DE syrups,and combinations thereof are used depending on the particular barformula and desired properties. In this study, Comet 63DE syrup wasevaluated relative to conventional 63DE corn syrup, at equal solidscontent, in a cereal bar application.

Because the Comet 63DE syrup was a lower solids content than thecommercial Control, it was cooked longer to drive off more moisture andreach equivalent solids content (87%) to the Control binding syrup. TheComet binding syrup looked creamy white, tasted sweet, and bound the barparticulates together well. The initial performance of Comet 63DE syrupin this applications appears comparable to the Control (FIG. 11 ).

Comparison of the nutrition facts panels shows that bars made with Comet63DE have lower calories (150 vs 160) and higher fiber (4 g vs 2 g). Nodifference was observed in total carbohydrates and sugar (FIG. 12 ).

Example 7

Wheat straw is treated with steam at about 110° C. to about 150° C.(e.g., about 130° C.) for about 5 minutes to about 30 minutes (e.g.,about 15 minutes) at a pressure of about 10 psi to about 20 psi (e.g.,about 15 psi) in a pre-activation step. The ratio of steam to wheatstraw is about 0.1 to about 1.0 (e.g., about 0.1 to about 0.8, about 0.1to about 0.5, about 0.1 to about 0.3, about 0.3 to about 1, about 0.5 toabout 1, about 0.8 to about 1, about 0.3 to about 0.5, about 0.3 toabout 0.8, or about 0.5 to about 0.8). The straw is then treated withsteam at about 200° C. to about 240° C. (e.g., about 222° C.) for about5 minutes to about 20 minutes (e.g., about 10 minutes) at a pressure ofabout 300 psi to about 350 psi (e.g., about 305 to about 335 psi). Theratio of steam to wheat straw is about 0.1 to about 2.0 (e.g., about 0.1to about 1.5, about 0.1 to about 1.0, about 0.1 to about 0.5, about 0.5to about 2.0, about 1.0 to about 2.0, about 1.5 to about 2.0, about 0.5to about 1.5, about 0.5 to about 1.0, or about 1.0 to about 1.5).

The material is extracted with water at a temperature of about 25° C. toabout 95° C. (e.g., about 25° C. to about 75° C., about 25° C. to about50° C., about 50° C. to about 95° C., about 75° C. to about 95° C.,about 25° C. to about 50° C., or about 25° C. to about 75° C.), and theliquid unpurified hemicellulose is removed via vacuum filtration.

Example 8

An unpurified hemicellulose (e.g., the unpurified hemicellulose ofExample 7) is treated with alkaline peroxide conditions and elevatedtemperature (also called decolorizing). The pH is about 9.5 to about11.5 (e.g., about 10.5). A peroxide loading of 5-40% (e.g., 10-20%)(w/w) based on the dry AX content is used. In some cases, thetemperature is between 60° C. and 80° C. (e.g., about 60° C.) for aperiod of about 2 hours to about 4 hours (e.g., about 2 hours). Ingeneral, the higher the temperature, the lower a time is used.Typically, temperatures above 100° C. are not used, as they generallyinclude a pressurized system which is more complicated and expensive toremove polyphenols and other color compounds related to lignin anddegradation products from the AX molecule.

The alkaline peroxide treated hemicellulose is then purified to removeimpurities from AX as follows (the order of these steps can be varied):

-   -   a. Activated carbon—can remove color compounds and degradation        products as well as protein    -   b. IX—can remove color, degradation products, salts    -   c. Nanofiltration and/or reverse osmosis—can remove low        molecular weight impurities and water (e.g., to concentrate the        product before either evaporation to a syrup or drying)

In some cases, steps a-c are performed in the order: a, b, c. In somecases, IX includes two-stage ion exchange. AX with at purity greaterthan 95% with little or no polyphenols or color is the final product andcan be evaporated to a concentrated syrup, or dried to a powder. Someproperties of the prepared AX are shown in Table 13.

TABLE 13 Property AX MW (Da) <4000 Colour Off white Polyphenol (%) <0.5%(estimated) Purity (%) >95% Antioxidant level (umol TE/100 g) <10000(estimated)

Example 9

A crude hemicellulose preparation is obtained from a commercialprovider. The crude hemicellulose preparation (which can havepolyphenols attached and a higher molecular weight, e.g., higher thanabout 20 kDa (e.g., about 30 to about 300 kDa) and can have an alkalinepH (e.g., about 9 to about 14)) is treated with alkaline conditions,either in the presence or absence of an oxidizing agent and additivesthat can improve the performance of the oxidizing agent and elevatedtemperature. In some cases, the temperature is between 60° C. and 200°C. (e.g., about 90° C.) for a period of 30 minutes to 8 hours (e.g.,about 2 to 4 hours). In general, the higher the temperature, the lowertime is used. Typically, temperatures above 100° C. are not used, asthey generally include a pressurized system which is more complicatedand expensive. The resulting hemicellulose has a molecular weight(M_(w)) of about 1500 to about 4000 Da.

Example 10

The hemicellulose made in Example 9 is combined with a hemicellulosethat has undergone decolorizing but no other purification (e.g., thedecolorized hemicellulose of Example 8). The combined hemicellulose istreated with activated carbon, purified with ion exchange, and purifiedwith reverse osmosis with nanofiltration, for example, as in Example 8.

Example 11

The hemicellulose made in Example 9 undergoes decolorizing, treated withactivated carbon, purified with ion exchange, and purified with reverseosmosis with nanofiltration as described in Example 8.

Other Embodiments

One or more inventions may reside in any combination or sub-combinationof the elements or process steps disclosed in any part of this documentincluding its claims.

Although the above description includes reference to certain specificembodiments, various modifications thereof will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art. Any examples provided herein are included solely forthe purpose of illustration and are not intended to be limiting inanyway. The scope of the claims appended hereto should not be limited bythe preferred embodiments set forth in the above description, but shouldbe given the broadest interpretation consistent with the presentspecification as a whole. The disclosures of all prior art recitedherein are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

1. A method for preparing a purified hemicellulose compositioncomprising: providing a lignocellulosic biomass: combining thelignocellulosic biomass with water: activating the lignocellulosicbiomass and water using conditions comprising a temperature and apressure to form an activated cellulose stream: washing the activatedcellulose stream to form a washed activated cellulose stream and asoluble extract, wherein the soluble extract comprises hemicellulose;and purifying the soluble extract to obtain a hemicellulose compositioncomprising: (a) about 20% to about 95% by dry weight of xylan, whereinsaid xylan comprises about 70% to about 99% of arabinoxylan; (b) about5% to about 60% by dry weight of xylo-oligosaccharide; and (c) about 0%to about 40% by dry weight of xylose.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereinthe purified hemicellulose composition comprises about 87% to about 88%by dry weight of xylan.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the purifiedhemicellulose composition has a molecular weight (M_(w)) of less than4000 Da.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the purified hemicellulosecomposition has a polyphenol content of less than about 0.5% by dryweight.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the purified hemicellulosecomposition has an antioxidant level of less than about 10000 μmolTE/100 g.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the purified hemicellulosecomposition has a purity of at least 95%.
 7. The method of claim 1,wherein the xylan comprises about 90% to about 99% by dry weight ofarabinoxylan. 8-30. (canceled)
 31. The method of claim 1, wherein thetemperature is about 190° C. to about 225° C.
 32. The method of claim 1,wherein the pressure is about 200 to about 500 psig.
 33. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the activating step has a duration of about 1 to about30 minutes.
 34. The method of claim 1, wherein washing comprises washingwith water at a temperature of about 40° C. and about 100° C.
 35. Themethod of claim 1, wherein purifying comprises one or more ofdecolorizing, treating with carbon, performing ion exchange (IX),performing reverse osmosis, nanofiltering, or a combination thereof. 36.The method of claim 35, wherein purifying comprises, sequentially,decolorizing, treating with carbon, performing ion exchange (IX), andperforming reverse osmosis, to form purified hemicellulose.
 37. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the lignocellulosic biomass comprises wheatstraw, wheat flour, wheat bran, corn stover, sugarcane bagasse, hardwood, soft wood, or a combination thereof.
 38. The method of claim 1,wherein said hemicellulose composition comprises: (a) about 82% to about92% by dry weight of xylan, wherein said xylan comprises about 70% toabout 99% of arabinoxylan; (b) about 8% to about 9% by dry weight ofxylo-oligosaccharide; and (c) about 4% to about 5% by dry weight ofxylose.
 39. The method of claim 1, further comprising drying thepurified hemicellulose.
 40. A purified hemicellulose prepared by themethod of claim 1.